[Protect the Bill of Rights]

If we are right about there being no entry into the house from the garage, I would bet they had a garage door opener. If she opened the garage from the back porch before going outside it would almost eliminate the garage door as a factor in the start of the fire (enclosed space with vapors or crashing into the door).

Questions which have not been answered:

Was the engine running or was the key in the ‘on’ position.
Was the van in park, reverse or drive.

The position of her body would be very important. Was she sitting upright? Was she turned to the door in a way that showed she was trying to get it open? Did she try to get to the passenger door?

It is hard to put myself in the horror of those minutes, but I would think that if I could not open the doors or the windows I would get as far away from the flames as I could—I would try to get in the very back.

If she was upright in a normal position does that mean she panicked or was already unconscious? Did she even have an opportunity to react?

Questions no one has the answer to outside of the investigators. I wonder if we will ever know.

[Gabrial]

“Was the engine running or was the key in the ‘on’ position.
Was the van in park, reverse or drive.”

This information is key. You bet the investigators know it. I think it most likely the car was in reverse, ignition on, but engine stalled due to not enough oxygen due to a flash explosion of some sort, which is why the vehicle stopped.

[1066AD]

Post #316, this thread:

Property type: Townhouse
Year built: 1908
Parking type: Garage - Attached, Off street

[TigersEye]

If we are right about there being no entry into the house from the garage, I would bet they had a garage door opener. If she opened the garage from the back porch before going outside it would almost eliminate the garage door as a factor in the start of the fire (enclosed space with vapors or crashing into the door).

I don't know if it would eliminate it but it would greatly reduce the potential for that particular cause. My thinking has mostly been about whether she actually did hit a closed garage door and if so from inside or outside. I agree with another poster who said the firemen probably pulled that garage header down. I hadn't thought about that before.