You call that a lightning strike? Pffft... THIS is a lightning strike

[David Drummond]

I think the fire started on the right front tire where lightning normally makes the jump to the ground in most vehicle strikes, then the flames worked their way up from there.

That is plausible. The tire definitely burned. Unfortunately this probably eliminated any evidence of lightning exit from the tire. It's also sitting on concrete. Not sure how that would affect the lightning making it to potential ground. Concrete is a poor electrical conductor.

I am still not 100% convinced this fire was even the result of lightning, the more I think about it.

 

[rdale]

What if this was caused by a meteor?

Where did that come from?

 

[rdale]

I am still not 100% convinced this fire was even the result of lightning, the more I think about it.

The story was posted to their news site on October 30th - anyone with lightning data able to check for storms in the Sacramento region on the 29th or 30th?

http://www.kcra.com/news/14465267/detail.html

 

[HAltschule]

Interesting thread. As a certified Arson Investigator, it is clear that the main body of fire came from the engine compartment...rather than the tire. So, no, the fire did not start in the tire. If it was lightning, then there were likely at least 2 points of origin...one in the engine compartment area and one at the exit region of the tire. The main bulk of the fire was from the engine compartment. Judging by the location of the most burning, the ltg strike could have hit the fuel pump or a fuel line and started the fire. That would explain the intense burning that occurred. Also, a deep gash in the hood like that is not normal without the whole car being engulfed and totalled. The ltg strike likely blew a hole in the hood just as the fire began.

If it was not lightning that caused it, then someone has a lot of explaining as to why there is more than 1 point of origin/fire.

 

[James Siler]

I would love to see some of the close strikes that belong to Mr. Drummond I beleive, from times past.

 

[David Drummond]

Interesting thread. As a certified Arson Investigator, it is clear that the main body of fire came from the engine compartment...rather than the tire. So, no, the fire did not start in the tire. If it was lightning, then there were likely at least 2 points of origin...one in the engine compartment area and one at the exit region of the tire. The main bulk of the fire was from the engine compartment. Judging by the location of the most burning, the ltg strike could have hit the fuel pump or a fuel line and started the fire. That would explain the intense burning that occurred. Also, a deep gash in the hood like that is not normal without the whole car being engulfed and totalled. The ltg strike likely blew a hole in the hood just as the fire began.

If it was not lightning that caused it, then someone has a lot of explaining as to why there is more than 1 point of origin/fire.

I'd be with you on the fuel line theory. Isn't the fuel pump on these located in the tank though? The hood on those is also not metal, as far as I know. Fiberglass or some sort of composite?

 

[David Drummond]

I would love to see some of the close strikes that belong to Mr. Drummond I beleive, from times past.

Bah, your not missing much. I might stick em up on youtube this winter, we'll see. It's old stuff now.

 

[Marko Korosec]

Where did that come from?

Not sure if you understand me...I meant "meteorite". What if the fire was caused by a small meteorite and not by lightning? I am looking forward to see lightning data from that day.

 

[Jeff Smith]

I work in wholesale Ford parts so here's my theory.....
First of all, the factory hood is aluminum, not composite. Second, many of you may know that there is a recall on millions of Ford vehicles due to....yep...you guessed it....a wiring problem! Short story is there is a plastic switch that screws into the brake master cylinder located on the left side firewall. These switches sense the brake being applied and then tell the computer to turn the cruise control off. These switches are known to leak brake fluid, melting the insulation in the wires (one of which has 12 volts constantly-bad design), and has been known to cause fires in quite a few Ford vehicles. I just glanced at the video, but I would venture to say that this truck didn't burn from the supposed strike, but the faulty switch. Of course, I would like to know if this truck had the recall performed......Hmmmm.....

 

[David Drummond]

Now THAT makes perfect sense to me!

I work in wholesale Ford parts so here's my theory.....
First of all, the factory hood is aluminum, not composite. Second, many of you may know that there is a recall on millions of Ford vehicles due to....yep...you guessed it....a wiring problem! Short story is there is a plastic switch that screws into the brake master cylinder located on the left side firewall. These switches sense the brake being applied and then tell the computer to turn the cruise control off. These switches are known to leak brake fluid, melting the insulation in the wires (one of which has 12 volts constantly-bad design), and has been known to cause fires in quite a few Ford vehicles. I just glanced at the video, but I would venture to say that this truck didn't burn from the supposed strike, but the faulty switch. Of course, I would like to know if this truck had the recall performed......Hmmmm.....

 

[Martin North]

Makes sense to me too...

Most plastic stuff in there is fairly fire retardant isn't it. I'm thinking to myself that maybe the thunderstorm was inconsequential...maybe it went on fire with an electrical fault at that time...

Alloy? hood melted above the seat of the fire perhaps...

 

[rdale]

Not sure if you understand me...I meant "meteorite". What if the fire was caused by a small meteorite and not by lightning?

I know what a meteorite is

Guess I'm just wondering why you threw that up as a possibility... Given the number of known car fires started by meteorites in the history of civilization (zero) I'm just curious how long it is before you hypothesize that a mini-tsunami might be the cause as well

 

[Terry Tyler]

maybe it was an exceptionally large bolt...

maybe it was powerful enough to penetrate the hood and ignite some hoses and flammable liquids in the engine...seems possible...a really powerful positive CG bolt...

ive seen a full grown white oak tree blown to splinters by a lightning bolt...if it could destroy a whole tree like that, surely it would be capable of penetrating an aluminum cars hood...

 

[Robert Dewey]

I know what a meteorite is

Guess I'm just wondering why you threw that up as a possibility... Given the number of known car fires started by meteorites in the history of civilization (zero) I'm just curious how long it is before you hypothesize that a mini-tsunami might be the cause as well

Hasn't there been reports of meteors striking houses? I can't imagine they'd make an exception for a vehicle.

 

[rdale]

Yes, but not starting them on fire. They aren't red-hot when they hit the ground, unless they're massive ones that'd cause more than a little car fire :>