(WHDH) — As brutally hot temperatures take hold of the Northeast, fire officials are warning motorists to get rid of any plastic bottles that may be in their vehicles.
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Fire officials told WSTM-TV that plastic water bottles pose a fire hazard when left in a hot car and in direct sunlight.
A fire can ignite within just a matter of minutes, according to Manlius Firefighter Jay Symonds.
“The water and the plastic create a magnifying effect, and could essentially set upholstery on fire or a piece of plastic on fire,” Symonds told the news outlet.
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The chance for a fire increases as temperatures soar into the triple digits.
Experts recommend storing bottled water in a cooler or in the trunk.
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