ON THURSDAY EVENING FEBRUARY 18, 2010 AT APPROXIMATELY 9:45 PM MY WIFE NOTICED WHEN SHE TOOK OUR DOG OUT IN OUR FRONT YARD THAT OUR 1999 FORD F250 LARIET 7.3 LITER DIESEL WAS ON FIRE. I HAD CONNECTED THE FACTORY INSTALLED BLOCK HEATER TO A 120V EXTENSION CORD AT AROUND 9:00 PM THAT SAME EVENING, AS USUALLY DONE IN THE EVENINGS WHEN IT WILL BE DRIVEN THE NEXT DAY. AMBIENT TEMPERATURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 25 DEGREES F. THE TRUCK HAS FACTORY INSTALLED CRUISE CONTROL, AND WAS BROUGHT IN TO A FORD DEALER IN AROUND JULY 2009 AS REQUIRED BY A FORD RECALL NOTICE ABOUT CRUISE CONTROLS. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT DEFECTIVE. BASED UPON THE FIRE, I BELIEVE FORD'S TEST PROCEDURES TO ASSESS THE SAFE OPERATION OF THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH AS TO CORROSION/ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE, AND EXCESSIVE HEAT GENERATION, IS IN ADEQUATE BECAUSE IT PROBABLY DOES NOT MEASURE CONDUCTIVITY, AND SWITCH ASSEMBLY TEMPERATURE. THE BETTENDORF, IOWA FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED, AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITHIN FIVE MINUTES ONCE THEY HAD THE HOSES, PRY BARS, AND HYDRAULIC JAWS IN PLACE. THE SCOTT COUNTY SHERIFF DEPARTMENT ALSO RESPONDED. OUR INSURANCE COMPANY SAID THE TRUCK IS TOTALED, AND AWAITING MY DECISION REGARDING SALVAGE. I WILL CONTACT AN ATTORNEY (HE WAS IN COURT) MONDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2010 REGARDING WHAT I BELIEVE THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH, PROBABLY MANUFACTURED BY TEXAS INSTRUMENTS. THE TRUCK HAS NOT BEEN MOVED