MY WIFE RETURNED FROM THE DEALERSHIP AFTER RECEIVING AN OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION. SHE PARKED THE CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY AT THE HOUSE AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES MY FAMILY GOT IN THE VEHICLE. I SMELLED A BURNING ODOR WHILE WALKING TO THE VEHICLE. MY WIFE CRANKED THE VEHICLE AND IMMEDIATELY THERE WAS WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I OPENED THE HOOD AND THERE WAS A FIRE BURNING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WE GOT THE FAMILY OUT OF THE CAR AND I GRABBED A WATER HOSE AND PUT THE FLAMES OUT. AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES I NOTICED THAT SMOKE WAS AGAIN COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I DISCONNECTED THE CABLE FROM THE POSITIVE TERMINAL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE SMOKED STOPPED. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE BATTERY CABLE CAUGHT FIRE BECAUSE IT WAS NOT SUFFICIENT ENOUGH TO HANDLE THE ELECTRICAL LOAD OF THE VEHICLE AND THAT THE REPLACEMENT CABLE WAS MUCH THICKER AND MORE INSULATED. THESE CABLES NEED TO BE REPLACED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THERE IS A LOSS OF LIFE. *TR