It’s a serious hazard that could ignite a car’s interior, yet surprisingly, many people find it hard to believe.
Firefighters are cautioning drivers about the potential dangers of leaving water bottles in cars during hot summer days. They warn that a plastic water bottle left in direct sunlight can cause a fire within minutes.
If you’re puzzled about how water—the very substance used to extinguish fires—could contribute to something so unexpectedly flammable, you’re not alone.
We all know how scorching car interiors can get during summer. In fact, a study by Stanford University revealed that on sunny days, when temperatures range from 72–96°F (22–35°C), the inside of a parked car can soar to 112–136°F (44–55°C) within just an hour.
It’s clear that leaving certain items in such extreme heat can lead to serious consequences. While most people are familiar with the repeated warnings about leaving children and pets in hot cars, what about a seemingly innocent bottle of water?
According to reports, even that can turn into an unexpected hazard.
Firefighters from the Midwest City Fire Department in Oklahoma conducted a test and discovered that sunlight passing through a water bottle can reach temperatures of 250°F (120°C). Essentially, water bottles can function like a magnifying glass, concentrating sunlight to the point where it can ignite a flame and cause a fire inside a car.
As a result, the firefighters quickly issued a warning advising people to avoid leaving water-filled bottles in direct sunlight.
“The sunlight will come through, when it’s filled with liquid, and act as a magnifying glass as you would with regular optics. It uses the liquid and the clear material to develop a focused beam and sure enough, it can actually cause a fire, a combustion,” firefighter David Richardson explained to KFOR News.
Another advocate raising awareness about this little-known danger is engineer Dioni Amuchastegui, who encountered the issue firsthand.
“I taking an early lunch and sitting in the truck. Happened to notice some smoke out of the corner of my eye and looked over and noticed that light was being refracted through a water bottle and was starting to catch the seat on fire,” Amuchastegui recounted.
Fortunately, Amuchastegui noticed the problem in time, but it could have easily led to a serious fire.
