Ah, the great outdoors! The campfires, the starry skies… and the explosions? One Australian adventurer figured that anything goes when it comes to packing for a camping trip. With every nook and cranny inside his car filled, he thought, “Why not use that empty space under the hood?” The only problem? His spare propane bottle wasn’t thrilled about the engine heat, and it wasn’t long before his entire setup went from cozy camper to four-wheeled fire hazard.
Here’s how it went down according to Channel 9 News: our young camper loaded his Ford to the max with tents, chairs, coolers, and cooking gear. Every inch of space inside the car was packed. Apparently, even his footwell had supplies stuffed into it. With no extra room left, he eyed the engine bay. It was a risky move, but he saw some “free space” under the hood, right around the engine. And in went the leftover camping items, including a propane tank for his grill. He closed the hood and set off, thinking he’d outsmarted his car’s “limited cargo capacity.” Spoiler: he hadn’t.
The trekker didn’t even get out of Melbourne. Not long after he hit Monash Freeway, that barbecue bottle started to warm up. While the young man cruised along, the engine’s heat baked his gear stashed under the hood. Predictably, things got toasty fast, and soon smoke began pouring out of the engine bay. Flames followed shortly after, and our camper screeched to a stop, bailed out of the car, and watched as his grand camping plan turned into a road hazard. Passing drivers called emergency services while he paced helplessly, watching his car cook like a turkey on Thanksgiving.
Firefighters arrived, quickly dousing the flames. But it wasn’t over. The firefighters knew that with a propane tank in the mix, they had to be cautious. Imagine the tension: everyone standing back, holding their breath, while emergency crews poked around to find the propane bottle wedged near the exhaust. But amazingly, the tank hadn’t exploded. Our camper’s Ford flambé didn’t end in pieces, just a charred pile of camping gear and a valuable lesson on what not to do when packing.
So, if you’re hitting the road with camping gear this season, remember: under the hood is no place for extra baggage—especially if it’s flammable. Find some roof racks, rent a trailer, or maybe just pack a little lighter. Because the last thing you want is your next camping trip starting (and ending) with an emergency crew.
