DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT NIGHT, EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. FORTUNATELY COASTED TO A STOP ON AN EXIT RAMP. UPON STOPPING OBSERVED SMOKE COMING THROUGH THE EDGES OF THE HOOD. TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND EXITED THE CAR. NOTICED A FLAME UNDER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WITHIN ONE MINUTE THE FRONT END OF THE CAR BURST INTO FLAMES AND BURNED IN A BRIGHT YELLOW FIREBALL ESTIMATED TO BE 20 FEET HIGH. IT BURNED UNTIL THE FIRE TRUCKS ARRIVED 20 MINUTES LATER. THE HEAT WAS EXTREMELY INTENSE. THE HOOD VAPORIZED, METAL PARTS OF THE ENGINE MELTED, TIRES EXPLODED. CAR HAD A FULL TANK OF GAS AND STRONGLY SUSPECT MALFUNCTION OF FUEL SYSTEM. HAD WE BEEN TRAPPED IN THE CAR ON THE FREEWAY, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN FOUR FATALITIES. *TR