Maryland Man Accidentally Sets His Car Ablaze After Using Hand Sanitizer While Smoking

ICYMI (~530p) vehicle fire at Federal Plaza, 12200blk Rockville Pike, near Trader Joe\u2019s & Silver Diner, @mcfrs PE723, M723, AT723 & FM722 were on scene (news helicopter video)pic.twitter.com/TeAynaGsgp

— Pete Piringer (@Pete Piringer) 1620949404

(5/13) Rockville, MD, hand sanitizer & lighted cigarette start fire in an occupied car, Driver was able to escape the vehicle while onlookers called 911.\u00a0The patient suffered from NLT 1st & 2nd degree burns on his hands & inner thighs & transported to hospital https://twitter.com/mcfrspio/status/1392988883449696260\u00a0\u2026pic.twitter.com/Eu9N5ytyvx

— Pete Piringer (@Pete Piringer) 1620990595

More... (5/13) Federal Plaza, Rockville Pike, @mcfrs Fire Investigators say after shopping & in a car a man filled his hands w/ copious amount of hand sanitizer.\u00a0 While working sanitizer into his hands,\u00a0embers fell from cigarette in his mouth, igniting sanitizer & some clothing. https://twitter.com/mcfrspio/status/1392990185546297344\u00a0\u2026pic.twitter.com/IBUrWvLQGh

— Pete Piringer (@Pete Piringer) 1620964060

(5/13 ~530p) Rockville Pike, Federal Plaza shopping Center, vehicle fire; Cause, Driver using hand sanitizer & smoking a cigarette, which is a bad combo in unventilated area like a car; total loss; @MCFRS_EMIHS treated & transported 1 adult w/ minor burns, NLT https://twitter.com/mcfrsPIO/status/1392988883449696260\u00a0\u2026pic.twitter.com/nD7i7pQ5Mc

— Pete Piringer (@Pete Piringer) 1620949715

Copious amount looks like about a gallon went up!.

— PhotographicFloridian (@PhotographicFloridian) 1620965806

There must be more to this. If it was simply smoking with freshly applied hand sanitizer wouldn't he have burns on his hands? How'd his car catch on fire? Was he holding the hand sanitizer bottle when he reached for the lit cigarette and the bottle caught on fire?

— sounds like a you problem \ud83c\uddef\ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 (@sounds like a you problem \ud83c\uddef\ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08) 1620950556

How the hell much sanitizer was being used? Did he have like a gallon sized bottle?

— It\u2019s Dot..... Pressa Ho (@It\u2019s Dot..... Pressa Ho) 1621033849

Vehicle not in one parking spot, figure someone was in a hurry to get out...Maybe smoking while driving? Still something else more quickly flammable had to be involved....Vapors on a huge bottle of sanitizer?

— ouivalerie (@ouivalerie) 1621094930

Doesn't have to be much. Burn hands, drop the bottle, alcohol spills, fire consumes everything flammable inside the car, and that's it. Most fires start small.

— Riks is wearing N95-class M A S K S (@Riks is wearing N95-class M A S K S) 1621126348

Alcohol in the sanitizer, plus an ignition source like a lighter or match.

— racerpgt (@racerpgt) 1621001967

Some hand sanitizers produced during the pandemic have a higher alcohol content. That could be the reason.

— karen marie (@karen marie) 1620998169