Hand sanitizer, cigarette sparked Rockville Pike car blaze, officials say

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Rockville Pike car fire ignited by hand sanitizer and lit cigarette

Montgomery County officials are blaming hand sanitizer and a cigarette for a car fire that erupted at the Federal Plaza Shopping Center on Thursday.

A hand-sanitizer mishap sparked huge flames and billowing smoke from a car on Thursday in Rockville.

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SkyFox was over the Federal Plaza Shopping Center today as crews worked to put out the fire.

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Officials in Montgomery County say a driver was using hand sanitizer while smoking a cigarette.

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They say this is a bad idea, especially in an unventilated place like a car.

The driver suffered minor burns.