Carrier/rack problems of the 2013 Jeep Patriot

Driving at 70 mph, interstate 57, near marion, illinois. Driver alerted by passing vehicle. Driver immediately pulled off the highway onto shoulder when driver saw flames coming from rear of vehicle. When stopped, all people exited vehicle. Driver and navigator immediately began trying to put out flames coming from rear hatch area. With the aid of several passing motorists, flames were nearly put out by the time the fire department arrived on scene. Police were immediately there, before fire department. Lost most of the clothing and camping equipment that were riding in the plastic storage containers in the bumper-mounted hitch carrier. When we first stopped, flames were shooting out and melting plastic body panels and plastic bumper parts, and plastic rear wiper parts, and plastic storage containers in the hitch carrier. Standing behind vehicle, flames seemed to originate from the lower right hand bumper area, and spread rapidly up and over the rear of the vehicle, smoking and melting everything plastic. Driver & navigator suffered minor burns on hands of the kind caused from various melting plastics. By some miracle, the gas tank did not explode. Damage seemed extensive but confined to rear 1/4 of vehicle. Vehicle was driveable, but deemed unsafe to move under it's own power. So up on a tow vehicle to a repair facility it went. At this writing, damage assessment/repair is taking place. Outcome unknown, but probably grim.