August is often the warmest month of the year in many parts of the country, so it’s essential to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. However, while it might seem convenient, one of the worst places to store bottled water is in your car, as it might actually start a fire. It sounds surprising, but keep reading to understand why.
Back in July 2017, Dioni Amuchastegui, a battery technician at Idaho Power, discovered this unexpected hazard during his lunch break. He noticed smoke rising from under his truck’s center console.
“At first, I thought it was dust, but the window was rolled up, so there was no wind,” he explained recently. “Then I realized that light was being refracted through a water bottle, and it was indeed smoke.”
Although the fire only left two small burn marks on his pickup’s front seat, Amuchastegui quickly moved the bottle before it caused significant damage.
To verify the incident, Amuchastegui worked with his Idaho Power team to carefully recreate the combustion. They uploaded the resulting video to the company’s Facebook page on July 13.
“It’s not something you really expect, having a water bottle catch your chair on fire,” Amuchastegui said about the bizarre event. “I had to do a double take the first time.”
The Midwest City Fire Department in Oklahoma saw the video and shared it on their Facebook page as a low-risk public safety advisory for the sunny summer months.
“The conditions must be just right,” David Richardson, a spokesperson for the Midwest City Fire Department, told TODAY. “The bottle has to contain liquid, the liquid must be clear, the bottle must be clear, and sunlight has to pass through it at the right angle.”
Source: Freepik
The round shape of the bottle plays a crucial role too. On a sunny day, light streams through the front windshield and the filled water bottle, focusing the light’s heat into a single spot. In just a few seconds, that concentrated beam can reach temperatures of 400 degrees on a darker surface, which is hot enough to start a fire.
Richardson also noted that these conditions can’t be met when sunlight passes through a tinted window or while the vehicle is in motion.
Using just a small water bottle and a dark sheet of paper, Richardson’s team was able to replicate the same combustion as Amuchastegui. However, he emphasized that it’s highly unlikely there would be a sustained fire, as his department hasn’t recorded any vehicle fires caused by this method.
To stay safe, take your bottled water with you instead of letting it bake in your car for hours. Remember, it’s a good practice for your health and safety to avoid leaving anything flammable in a hot vehicle. Consider using reusable water bottles and keep in mind some simple tips for staying properly hydrated.
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