I have just read this thread and wish thank you all for your your kind messages of support.
It is understandable that you are keen to know what the hell happened. My iPad was recording our track the whole time so I have accurate timings.
First the base facts. I was travelling in my 'overland' cruiser which is a 1991 80 series that I have spent several years preparing for a trip to Cape Town.
For some reason the car was a real character and got christened 'Mr T' after the big guy in the 'A Team' (ancient TV series).
We had been driving for hours across hot desert, both on piste and totally off road, so at around 17:45 we decided to take a short break at a 'signpost' (actually a great concrete block) around 60km south of the nearest town (Es aram).
It was a very hot dry day (around 40C) with a strong and bone dry breeze. I left my engine running and popped the bonnet to check all was well. As 'car' people do we all clustered around looking at the engine bay. I was mainly interested in ensuring the batteries were still properly secured as I had experienced problems during the 2015 Morocco trip and had made changes to the battery restraints. The engine was running at a normal temperature, Batteries were secure and there was no sign of any problems at all.
I closed the bonnet and we set off at 18:01. I was driving with the windows open and at 18:07 I smelt burning rubber and noticed a wisp of smoke from the bonnet on the drivers side. Immediately I called for help on the CB, stopped the car, shut off the engine, pulled the bonnet release catch, grabbed my fire extinguisher and ran outside.
There was a small amount of smoke issuing from around the rear of the DS side light with a few very small flames. I blasted the area with the extinguisher (CO2 with powder). The flames and smoke disappeared so I went to fully open the bonnet to finish the job - no joy. Rushed back and pulled the bonnet release again but there was no resistance at all. By this time Mark, George and Mike had come running with extinguishers.
I grabbed my tools from the car and we tried to smash open the bonnet. I tore off the front grill in a desperate attempt to get at the bonnet release (probably where I lost my thumbnail). The fire had started up again as the strong breeze was blowing directly on the front of the car and the fire was growing fast. It began to dawn on me that I was going to lose the car.
Mike yelled at me to grab my documents so I began emptying the car while the lads continued to try and get the bonnet open. Almost everything is stored in boxes so the car was empty in less than a minute (at least that is what I thought) and so I crawled underneath with the idea to crush the fuel feed line - I quickly realised that was an insane idea and abandoned the attempt.
Soon we had exhausted all four fire extinguishers and a lot of water trying to keep the fire subdued and the bonnet cool while we attempted to force it open and we were forced to admit defeat as the fire grew to frightening proportions. I jumped in the back to remove the gas cylinder and we retreated about 50 metres off carrying the boxes with us.
It was then that I realised some of the stuff I had chucked out of the car was being destroyed by the radiant heat of the fire even though it was 5 metres upwind! This was small (expensive) stuff that we had not noticed on the ground in our haste to get away from the fire. It was impossible to save this kit as the radiant heat was now so intense we could not approach. My wooden chopping board 5 metres upwind was reduced to charcoal even though it was not touched by the fire at all.
The whole period from the first whiff of smoke to raging inferno was 9 minutes. Absolutely terrifying.
I will post re our thoughts on the events and what action we took next tomorrow.
For now it is suffice to say that as we had saved all of my water, food, wine, gin and most of the beer we cracked open bottles and cans to hold a wake for Mr T - a brilliant car.
