When you’re juggling a car full of groceries, a child in a car seat, or beach gear after a fun day out, it’s easy to forget a water bottle left behind on the seat. However, a cautionary tale from a technician at a local energy company emphasizes that this seemingly harmless oversight can have serious consequences.
In a viral video shared on social media, Jake Thomson, a technician at Green Valley Energy, recounts a startling experience. While taking a lunch break in his work vehicle, he observed smoke billowing from the center console. Upon investigation, he discovered that a neglected water bottle was focusing sunlight and igniting the car seat. “I noticed light refracting through the bottle and starting to scorch the upholstery,” Thomson explained. The video displays two charred spots on his seat as evidence of the incident.
Thomson was taken aback by the event. “I had to look again; it was astonishing. I even put my hand under the bottle to feel the heat. We tested it afterward, and it reached temperatures high enough to burn through the fabric,” he remarked. He concluded, “It’s not something you expect—a water bottle setting your car on fire.”
A demonstration at the end of the video by Green Valley Energy employees confirmed that the light passing through a water bottle in a heated vehicle can create a dangerous hotspot, with temperatures exceeding 200 degrees Fahrenheit. The Oklahoma Midwest City Fire Department also echoed this warning, demonstrating that sunlight refracted through a water bottle can reach a blistering 250 degrees. While the chances of igniting a fire might be low, the potential risk remains. Therefore, the safest approach is to refrain from leaving water bottles in your car when they are not in use.
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Summary
Leaving water bottles in a hot car poses unexpected fire risks, as demonstrated by a technician’s alarming experience. Though the chances of ignition are low, it’s wise to avoid leaving bottles in vehicles altogether for safety.