Enduring the morning commute today, popped around a curve and there was a car on the shoulder, trunk and hood open - and foot-tall flames jetting merrily out of where I think the gas tank filler cap would be. Spotted a guy jogging back the road to a convenience store, I assumed to call the fire department, so I pulled in well in front of the burning car and ran back to see if anyone was inside. It was empty.

Now what to do? I have a small 1A-10BC fire extinguisher in my trunk, but did not think it would be effective on this fire unless I got in really close, to a fire that was already near the gas tank.

So I opted to go back to my car, get out my flares, walk back past the burning car to the curve in the road and try to direct cars into the other lane by waving a flare at them (it was misting rain). What do you firefighters think of that judgment call?