MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE YARD FOR SEVERAL HOURS, AND I WAS WORKING IN MY SHOP ABOUT 30 FEET AWAY. I STARTED SMELLING BURNING PLASTIC, AND I THOUGHT THAT THE NEIGHBORS WERE BURNING TRASH. WHEN THE ODOR BECAME STRONGER, I LOOKED OUT THE DOOR OF MY SHOP. THERE WAS SMOKE POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD, AND FROM THE FRONT OF THE GRILLE. I RAN AND GOT THE GARDEN HOUSE, AND STUCK IT IN THE WHEELWELL, IN A HOLE THAT HAD BURNED THROUGH THE INNER FENDER. ONCE THE FIRE SEEMED NEARLY OUT, I OPENED THE HOOD TO FINISH QUENCHING THE FLAMES. *TR