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In Maryland, a man set the interior of his car ablaze after using hand sanitizer while smoking a cigarette. Luckily, he was able to make it out of the car before it was completely engulfed in flames.
Reports say the man did sustain injuries of first and second degree burns on his hands and inner thighs.
Video footage from a helicopter showed dark smoke billowing from the car. Eventually you see firefighters hosing down the car, and copious amounts of steam flying over the parking lot, finally extinguishing the flames.
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
A spokesperson for the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service tweeted images of the aftermath with the caption:
"Rockville, MD, hand sanitizer & lighted cigarette start fire in an occupied car, Driver was able to escape the vehicle while onlookers called 911."
(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
They also explained the cost of the damages. Luckily no other cars were close enough to the flames.
"Damage to the 2000 Toyota Camry was extensive, estimated to be in excess of $2K, there was little or no collateral damage to nearby vehicles."
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
They explained he had used "copious amounts of hand sanitizer" which lead to embers of his lit cigarette falling onto his hands and clothing, igniting the alcohol in the sanitizer.
Because the car was not well-ventilated, it caused a heightened reaction between the embers and sanitizer.
"Driver using hand sanitizer & smoking a cigarette, which is a bad combo in unventilated area like a car."
(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
Given the shocking nature of this tragedy, many didn't believe a cigarette could cause such damage.
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
Others had an inkling about the alcohol content of the sanitizer.
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
Though the damages to the car are total, we are thankful the driver made it out of the car in time and someone was nearby to call 911.