Firefighters are cautioning the public against leaving plastic water bottles in cars during extreme heat. They explain that when a plastic bottle filled with water is left in a hot car under direct sunlight, it can potentially ignite a fire within minutes.

According to firefighters, the bottle must be full for this to occur. The combination of water and plastic can create a magnifying effect, which might cause the interior of the vehicle or another piece of plastic to catch fire.

Firefighters recommend storing bottled water in the trunk if you need to keep it in your vehicle.