2006 MAZDA 3 WAS LEAVING A DRIVEWAY AND GOT STUCK IN THE SNOW. THE CAR WAS ABLE TO GET UNSTUCK AND PROCEEDED DOWN THE STREET. THE CAR STOPPED IN BACK OF ANOTHER CAR THAT WAS STOPPED, AND BRIEFLY GOT STUCK AGAIN. THE CAR STARTED GOING AGAIN, AND SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN THE HOOD WAS OPENED THERE WERE FLAMES, AND THE ENTIRE ENGINE DEPARTMENT ENDED UP GOING UP IN FLAMES. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. THE CAR ENDED UP (LATER IN JANUARY 2009) AT THE LOCAL MAZDA DEALER, AND ALL THEY CAN SAY IS THEY DON'T KNOW WHY THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CAR IS ALL STOCK. I'M CONCERNED THAT THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE, AS IT IS A 2006 MODEL. THIS DOESN'T MAKE A WHOLE LOT OF SENSE TO ME. ALSO, I AM MOST CONCERNED THAT THIS MAY BE A SAFETY PROBLEM, AND I BELIEVE MAZDA SHOULD LOOK INTO THE INCIDENT A LITTLE MORE. OVERHEATING, POSSIBLY, BUT NOT AN OUT AND OUT FIRE THAT BURNED AND MELTED ALMOST THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THIS IS BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF WHAT HAPPENED AND WHERE WE ARE AT NOW. *TR