Firefighters warn public on the hazards of leaving water bottles in vehicles

The hot weather and high temperatures can have a range of effects on people’s everyday life. It is widely known that prolonged exposure to heat can lead to heatstroke, which is why it is recommended to avoid being under direct sunlight for longer periods of time. At the same time, it is essential to stay hydrated and limit strenuous activities during the hottest parts of the day.

This weather can also significantly increase the risk of fires.

Dry heat, strong winds, and low humidity represent ideal conditions for a fire to start. One way of accidentally starting a fire is by leaving water bottles inside a vehicle during high heat. The reason why is that the bottles, especially if they are translucent, can act as magnifying lenses if exposed to high temperatures, focusing sunlight and creating concentrated beams of light.

When light enters a clear or translucent bottle, it can be focused and intensified into a concentrated heat spot. This concentrated heat can build up on nearby flammable materials, like paper or fabric, and potentially ignite them, leading to a fire withing minutes.

This is why firefighters urge people not to leave water bottles inside their vehicle.

In July 2017, Dioni Amuchastegui, a battery technician with Idaho Power, noticed smoke emerging from beneath the center console of his truck during his lunch break.

“At first I thought it was dust, but the window was rolled up so there was no wind,” he shared with Today. “Then I noticed that light was being refracted through a water bottle and it was actually smoke.”

Amuchastegui was quick to get rid of the bottle and prevent fire from starting.

He told his story to his colleagues at Idaho Power and they came up with the idea of filming a video and warning people of the potential dangers of a simple act of leaving a water bottle inside the car when the temperatures are high.

15+ Pics That Need the Full Story to Make Sense

In 2011, 27 million pieces of content were shared online every day. Today, no less than 3.2 billion images are shared on a daily basis. It takes us a mere couple of seconds to snap a picture, and we’re not limited to a roll of film anymore. As a consequence, we snap pictures of everything, and sometimes we can’t keep them to ourselves.

Bright Side has a game for you — we prepared a list of images and your task is to figure them out without reading the explanation. Are you in?

1. “I wondered what my dad’s prosthetic finger would look like on my toe.”

2. “I don’t paint often, so I was really proud of myself for remembering to wear gloves this time.”

3. “My roommate thought I made cinnamon rolls. I actually made bacon. He was not happy with his finger scoop.”

4. “My treadmill kicked all the dirt from my shoes into a ’heavy’ and a ’light’ pile.”

5. “The fog during my flight makes the city seem like it hasn’t rendered.”

6. “The imprint of me lying face down in the snow looks like it’s actually popping out from the snow.”

7. “The border of my tattoo turned into a stretch mark during my first pregnancy. Now it looks 3D.”

8. “This truck looks like it came out of a wormhole. It’s actually carrying a wind turbine blade.”

9. “I got a cramp on the side of my hand, and you can actually see it.”

10. “I took a photo of my new faucet LED the exact moment it turned from red to green (or green to red).”

11. This is what a scan of a moving hand looks like.

12. “These aren’t actually bricks, it’s just white paint on red cement.”

13. “This tire went flat, was driven on, damaging the sidewalls, and then reinflated.”

14. “I made a snowman out of a melting paste. Here it is after an hour.”

15. “This is what happens when you wear socks and shoes outside every day for 20 years.”

16. “Shaved my hands, probably shouldn’t have. I just felt like my hands were too hairy.”

17. “Discovered that my tooth implant doesn’t glow like the rest of my teeth under a black light — regular photo for comparison.”

Which of these pics got you guessing about its backstory? What’s the last picture you took on your phone that only makes sense if you explain it? Share it with us in the comments.

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