1994 Ford Tempo engine problems

1994 ford tempo gl. My husband's car went up in flames and smoke yesterday while driving it, the fire department and police came and put it out. The car is a total loss, as well as the jacket my husband was (fortunately) wearing when the flames came shooting out from the engine area into the driver's seat. A friend of mine suggested that I check if others had this problem, and I came across this site. It looks like others have had this problem, if the NHTSA campaign 97v019000 is an indication of such.

While driving at 40 MPH the heating level went up. The consumer proceeded to the store to purchase antifreeze, noticed the vehicle smoking, the check engine light came on, the consumer got out of the vehicle, and the vehicle burst into flames. The vehicle was totaled....... In the time the consumer had the car, the temperature gauge never went pass normal until that day; the engine cooling fan would come on before the gauge went up passed normal.