I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 12 WEST. AS I TURNED ONTO A ROAD, I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER MY HOOD. MY 8-YEAR-OLD SAID, " WHAT IS THAT SMELL?" I TOLD HER THAT IT IS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME, I TURNED THE TRUCK AROUND AND WENT TO THE NEAREST QUICK STORE. THE MAN INSIDE LOOKED UNDER MY HOOD AND USED WATER TO PUT ON THE "HOOD BLANKET". THERE WAS A HOLE IN IT ABOVE THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR. THE MAN KEPT PUTTING WATER ON IT UNTIL IT STOPPED SMOKING. AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME, HE TOLD ME THAT ME AND LITTLE GIRL WERE LUCKY. I KNEW THAT IT COULD HAVE GOTTEN WORSE. IT WAS COLD AND IF I WERE NOT CLOSE TO THE STORE I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE STAYED IN THE VEHICLE TO STAY WARM. I AM SO GLAD THAT I TURNED AROUND AND TOOK A CHANCE ON GETTING TO THE NEAREST STORE. MY INSURANCE AGENT WILL BE COMING MONDAY (TODAY IS SATURDAY) TO ASSESS THE DAMAGES AND DETERMINE WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE FIRE. *TR