As the Quad Cities Area prepares for a heat wave, some first responders are warning of the fire risk associated with leaving a water bottle inside a hot vehicle.
A plastic bottle filled with water can magnify the intensity of direct sunlight, according to firefighter Jay Symonds of Manlius, New York.
Symonds told WSTM-TV under the right conditions a water bottle in direct sunlight can catch upholstery or plastic on fire.
CBS News reports a plastic water bottle left in a hot vehicle in Idaho in 2017 caused the vehicle’s seat to begin burning.
While a water bottle sparking a fire may be unlikely, some fire departments across the country in recent years have warned the public of the potential risk.
A Davenport Fire Department spokesperson agrees circumstances have to be just right, but it is worth avoiding the possibility.