News from where I live:
Recalled Vehicle Burns In Westmoreland Co., Damages Garage
Owner Says He Had 2000 Grand Prix Recently Fixed
POSTED: 3:07 pm EDT September 8, 2009
UPDATED: 3:37 pm EDT September 8, 2009
NEW KENSINGTON, Pa. -- A car fire in Westmoreland County damaged a garage and the vehicle's owner said he thinks he knows what started the flames.Just before 3 a.m. emergency crews responded to a fire on Seventh Street in New Kensington.Matt Matarrese, the car's owner, said he heard several explosions. He also told Channel 4 Action News that his 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix had just been recalled.General Motors recalled more than 200,000 1997-2003 model Buick Regals and Pontiac Grand Prix because of a fire risk.The recall includes a strong warning not to park the vehicles "in a garage, carport or other structure" to avoid the risk of fire.In the recalls section of its website, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said "certain underhood fires may be caused by drops of engine oil being deposited on the exhaust manifold through hard braking."If the oil runs below the heat shield, and the manifold is hot enough, the NHTSA warns it could ignite.Matarrese said he was aware of the recall, and just had his car repaired. But he said something obviously went wrong."I went and got it fixed. But it looks like it started in the engine, that's what the fire department told me," said Matarrese.Even though the car was parked outside the garage, the flames jumped to the structure.No one was hurt in the fire.
Recalled Vehicle Burns In Westmoreland Co., Damages Garage - Pittsburgh News Story - WTAE Pittsburgh