A RELATIVELY MINOR TRAFFIC ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON MAY 18, 2002. COMING DOWN THE EXIT RAMP OF THE INTERSTATE, PROCEEDED THROUGH ON THE GREEN LIGHT, ABOUT 35 MPH. AT THE INTERSECTION MY JEEP IMPACTED WITH THE OTHER CAR IN A GLANCING BLOW. THE OTHER CAR COMING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. MY LEFT FRONT CORNER AGAINST THEIR RIGHT FRONT SIDE. BEFORE THE CAR CAME TO REST, AN ENGINE FIRE ERUPTED MY 1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE FIRE COMPLETELY CONSUMED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT; ALL WIRING, HOSES AND SOME METAL PARTS MELTED. THE FIRE APPEARED TO ERUPT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE ENGINE. . THE FIRST RESPONDER, LOCAL PD, EFFORTS TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WERE FUTILE. THE FIRE QUICKLY BEGAN TO ENTER PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPT RESPONDED AND EXTINGUISHED. CAR IS TOTALED. FIRE SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED.*AK .