Taxi Inferno, Take 2: Flaming Cab on West 42nd Street

Reader Ben sent us this picture of a cab on fire at West 42nd Street and 8th Avenue. This is odd, but made odder by the fact there was a taxi fire outside Rockefeller Center on West 50th on Tuesday. What's going on with the Crown Victorias?

It's unclear if anyone was injured. If anyone knows, can you tell us if taxi fires are fairly normal? Or car fires, for that matter. And a hypothesis was just offered: The flower decals are making the taxis heat up more!

Update: City Room says the cab was not a floral-decal cab. And Gotham City Insider has a good rundown on why cabs, Crowns Vics in particular, are susceptible to fires: "Imagine that x 8 hours a day 5 or 6 days a week. Those motors are dying to explode and rest in Ford heaven."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on September 20, 2007 3:21 PM

Comments [rss]

guest

Saw this from my office which has a view all the way up 8th...a huge black cloud just hovering over 8th for 15 minutes. Scary shit.

interlard

I witnessed a taxi fire in Austin, TX. I entered a nearby office complex and asked the security guards to get a fire extinguisher, but of course they couldn't find one.

That's all I have to say on this matter.

guest

I think its those flower covered cabs immolating.

TKaisen

The cabs are immolating themselves to protest the GPS systems. Duh.

guest

Car fires are common in leased cars, especially in the month before the lease is up and the leasee is way over the limit on the mileage.

guest

"why cabs, Crowns Vics in particular, are susceptible to fires"

Because they are often driven by Muslims?

In Iraq, they're called "Car Bombs"

virgil

I had to quit my browser and relaunch to be able to use the show/hide guest comments option. If you're having trouble, it may work for you.

Jen Chung

It makes sense that Crown Vics would age much faster - thanks #14.

Right before all the comments, there's an option to Show or Hide Guest Comments. And re: commenting, you can use a handle for your registered commenter name and use a nonspecific email address.

guest

If I was Andy Sipowitz, I’d be roughing up some pedicab people right about now...

Outter Burrougher

I've seen a couple of burned out taxis since moving to the city six years ago.

Why can't I get it to allow me to view guest comments?

guest

Thanks guest 14.

See? Now that is helpful. I don't know why gothamist is changing it's poilicy on anonymous posting (they're getting rid of it) - some people just don't want to be in the limelight.

guest

maybe it's those new gps/videoscreen units

guest

it has something to do with a design flaw on the Crown Vics, its been documented... go here

http://www.gothamcityinsider.com/2007/09/look-honey-its-taxi-inferno.html