Volvo Gurus! My 2001 S40 caught on fire. The damage looks like it came from the timing belt area as the timing belt cover is melted. Fire Department out and put the fire. Any clue as to what could have caused the fire? Insurance adjuster coming out tomorrow to take a look...

 

Yikes, first I've heard of something like this. Nothing obvious in that area. Lots of oily things that might get onto the exhaust manifold.

 

Did you have the timing belt cover off recently? I could imagine if it didn't go on nicely you could get some pretty bad rubbing and heat up, but fire? Bad news right there. Any pics of the damage?

FWIW I didn't have a fire, but I did have the rear cover on the enginecome loose somehow and melt all over the heat shield next to the heater core connections.

 

Oh my! How was the engine before? Was it showroom clean, or was it getting oily?

Oil leak heavy enough to spray oil on the exhaust would be enough for an engine fire. Oil offers more fire hazard than fuel, actually. Fuel will evaporate and not always ignite.