Just a tip.....though you are probably aware of it. I know this wasn't the case with your van, but leaf-fires can also start when catalytic-converter-equipped vehicles (which is just about everything today) with a hot pipe are parked in a deep enough pile of dry leaves or other combustible material. The converter's heat shield provides some protection, but not always enough.

I agree it's a good idea to keep a low (or zero) deductible on the comprehensive...there are a lot of potential hazards in this area. I keep a zero deductible myself.....on my own policy, the small amount I'd save by raising it is not worth the added risk.

 

It was 11:45pm on a school night. Probably safe to say the vehicle had cooled down since they drove it earlier

 

Yeah the van had been sitting there since about 1:00 that afternoon, it was definitely a cigarette or something.

People are so careless.

 

Oh, definitely. As I pointed out in my reply, I know it was not their vehicle that started it. Just pointing out that some leaf fires get started that way.

If it had been their vehicle that started the fire, the damage would not have been concentrated on the front bumper.

Have you picked out a body shop, SW? There are some good ones here in the D.C. area, though I haven't used one myself for a number of years, and some of the best people I knew in the business have retired.

 

Too early to make a hot car joke? On a serious note, glad there were no injuries!

 

Never too early IMHO haha

 

Wow! Glad everyone is ok. I had the front yard of my first home on fire for the exact same reason. It was during daylight, though. One of my neighbors rang my doorbell and asked if we were having a "controlled burn"! Luckily, there were no vehicles parked on the street. My grass came back better than ever in that spot the next year! Careless smokers suck! At least it wasn't the LS!

 

Yeah theres a pretty good scorched spot in the grass! Yeah, at least it wasn't the LS!

 

so sorry to hear that. hope car is fixed soon!

 

I'm sorry to hear about this. Glad your family is safe and didn't extend to the house. Good to have neighbours! Best wishes going forward and hope everything gets back to 100% normal.

 

If this comes out as totaled, would you buy another Sedona or would you reconsider other?

 

Sorry about the car, for your sake I would hope its a total loss. I wouldn't want to be stuck with a car that has fire damage and a lingering smoke smell.

 

The insurance adjuster is looking at it as we speak, should know very shortly where we're at.

I'd be shocked if it were a total. If it were to be totaled, I think we'd get another Sedona. The minivan is a must, and there's not anything different now in terms of the competition in that segment than there was 6 months ago when we got it. The 2016 Sedonas can be had with the rear bench seat and the SX-L package where the 2015 you had to have the reclining ottoman bucket seats, I'd get the bench thats the only change I would make. Those reclining seats are awesome, but with the car seats strapped to them we never use them.

My guess is it will need front bumper, grille, at least the passenger side lamp maybe the drivers too, the upper grill garnish, lower engine shield, perhaps new airbag sensors in the front (very close to the burned area) and that'll be it.

 

I've heard of leaf fires due to a hot catalytic converter in the past but not many because of a cigarette.
Tough break,Steve.

 

Holy crap... Glad it didn't consume the car, or anything else for that matter. Is there any smoke odor inside the car?