TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 ELDORADO BUS WITH A FORD LIGHT DUTY CUT AWAY VAN CHASSIS. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, SMOKE APPEARED FROM UNDER THE DASH AND THEN CAUGHT FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THERE IS A POLICE REPORT AVAILABLE AND PICTURES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIRING FROM THE BLOWER FAN TO THE RESISTOR, WHEN TURNED ON HIGH TO GET MAXIMUM HEAT OR AFTER NUMEROUS YEARS OF USE, CAN MELT THE CIRCUIT AND CAUSE A DASHBOARD FIRE. THE INSULATION OF WIRES LEADING TO THE SWITCH BECOMES SO HOT THAT IT BURNS OFF THE KNOB. THIS FAILURE OCCURS IN OLDER MODEL BUSES (1996), WITH HIGH MILEAGES (100,000). THE HIGHER THE MILEAGE AND THE OLDER THE MODEL, THE MORE LIKELY IT IS THAT THE BLOWER FAN SWITCH WILL FAIL AND POTENTIALLY CAUSE A FIRE. THE DASHBOARD HAS TO BE PULLED AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE SWITCH. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES, VIN, AND PURCHASE DATE WERE UNAVAILABLE.