The Ford Catches on Fire

Today was quite a day. I went to Subaru City looking for a new car. I fell in love with this Impreza. But I told Jason, the sales rep, I had to think about it. After leaving, I called my credit union and it looks like I'll have to hold off getting a new car right now.

On my way home, I stopped at Kwik Trip to get gas. While I was filling up, I noticed that there was some steam or smoke coming from the passenger side rear tire. Investigation seemed to reveal some brake fluid leaking and evaporating on the cylinder. I checked the fluid levels and they seemed sufficient and I hoped to make it to Dousman Auto Repair driving slow.  I was driving at 35 miles an hour with my hazard lights on. I almost hit Waterville when I noticed black smoke billowing off of that tired in my side mirror.

I got out to see the inside of the rim on fire. You'd think a volunteer firefighter would have an extinguisher in his car. NOPE!! So I grabbed a pair of my sweats from the back seat and tried swatting out the fire, but that didn't help. Took another look and they weren't my sweats at all, but my daughter's skirt. I guess it's short enough to start a fire, but not long enough to put one out! You also don't want to use windshield washer fluid on a fire. Oh boy, does that make it flare up! I ended up calling 911 and the Dousman Police and Fire showed up and put out the fire. Thanks guys!



I called AAA and Ben from LT's Western Towing came out and towed me to Dan's place. I fell asleep on the couch at the garage until Dani showed up with the truck to take me home. That was about 2pm.  After Dani took me home, she ran to WalMart to get new tires on the Dodge. Since I had been driving the Ford primarily, we had been putting off getting new rubber for the truck. But we can't put it off any longer if I have to drive it to Milwaukee every night.

It was a pretty depressing day, I didn't get a new car, my current car caught on fire, I had to pay $550 for new tires on the truck, and I didn't get much sleep!