WHILE TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND ON I-75 AT MILEPOST 263.3 A FAINT ALARM OF SOME KIND CAME ON. THEN THE ENGINE BEGAN MAKING A NOISE AND QUIT. WHEN I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT SHOT FLAMES AND SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I WAS ATTEMPTING TO RELEASE THE HOOD LATCH WHEN FLAMES BURST IN THROUGH THE FIREWALL UNDER THE DASH. WE THEN ABANDONED THE VEHICLE AND CALLED 911. BY THE TIME A FIRE TRUCK ARRIVED THE VAN WAS TOTALLY BURNED. I HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED REGULARLY AND HAD JUST REPLACED THE TIRES AND BRAKES. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE CAUSE MIGHT HAVE BEEN BUT IT BEARS LOOKING INTO. *KB