I PUSHED THE REAR DEFROSTER BUTTON AND ABOUT 5 SECONDS LATER THERE WAS THIS SMALL POP NOISE AND SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE DASH. I PULLED THE CAR OVER AND LOOKED INTO THE VENT AND SAW A FIRE ABOUT 3 INCHES HIGH. I GOT MY CHILDREN AND MYSELF OUT OF THE CAR RAN TO THE NEAREST HOUSE AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPT AND BY THE TIME THEY GOT THERE (7 MIN LATER) THE CAR WAS TOTALLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. IT WAS A TOTAL LOSS.*AK