As summer heats up, firefighters are warning: a plastic water bottle left in your car can start a fire.
Here’s why: sunlight hits the bottle, the water inside magnifies the light like a lens, and—boom—it can ignite your seat fabric.
It’s happened before. A firefighter in Idaho returned to a smoking car seat—caused by a forgotten bottle.
How to stay safe: Don’t leave water bottles in direct sun
Store them in the glovebox or shade
Use opaque or insulated bottles
It’s a simple habit to change—and it could save your car, or more.