2001 FORD ESCAPE — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

ONE WEEK PRIOR TO FIRE, THERE WAS A UNUSUAL SMELL THAT WAS ALMOST LIKE A "FUNNY WOODSTOVE' SMELL. THIS SMELL WAS ONLY PRESENT UNTIL THE CAR HEATED UP AND THE AIR FRESHENER WOULD COVER THE ODOR. IT GOT VERY STRONG THE AFTERNOON BEFORE THE FIRE HAPPENED. IT WAS MORE OF A STALE TIN CAN IS THE BEST WAY THAT I CAN DESCRIBE IT. I CAME HOME IN THE EVENING AND AT 5:30 AM OF THE 30TH MY MOTHER AND I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION WHICH WE FOUND OUT WAS LATER THE REAR TIRE ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF MY 2001 FORD ESCAPE BURSTING DUE TO THE INTENSITY OF THE FIRE AND THE ORIGIN, THE REAR LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FORD ESCAPE IS DESTROYED AND BURNED AT OVER 1400 DEGREES AND SPREAD SO RAPIDLY THAT BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BUT CONTROL THE FORE AND PUT IT OUT. MY PARENTS VEHICLE WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY NEXT TO MY ESCAPE AND WAS ALSO DESTROYED. SINCE THE INCIDENT I HAVE CONTACTED FORD SEVERAL TIMES TO REPORT THE INCIDENT AND HAVE AN INVESTIGATOR COME OUT TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE AS THE ORIGIN IS ALREADY DETERMINED DUE TO THE WAY THE VEHICLE BURNED. I HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE RUNAROUND SEVERAL TIMES, AND IT HAS BEEN ALMOST THIRTY DAYS. THERE WAS SOMETHING VERY WRONG WITH MY CAR AND THIS FIRE HAPPENED ONLY A COUPLE OF HOURS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY, LUCKILY I WAS NOT KILLED AND MY FAMILY STILL HAS A HOME. THE FIRE MARSHAL HAS STATED THAT THE FIRE PATTERNS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR ARE CONSISTENT WITH A LEAKING O RING FROM THE GA