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(NEW YORK) — The inside of a car is one of the most dangerous places for young children and pets during a heat wave. But everyday objects can be dangerous, too.

For example, according to experts, water bottles can pose a particular danger when temperatures rise.

One of the unexpected risks is that water bottles, especially clear bottles containing clear liquid, can start fires, David Richardson, chief administrative officer for the Midwest City Fire Department in Oklahoma, told ABC News.

Depending on the presence of sunlight, the reflective properties of the bottle and liquid can heat nearby objects enough to cause a fire if the bottle and liquid are hot enough, Richardson said.

When Richardson first heard about the potential danger of water bottles, he didn’t believe it. So he tested it in a controlled environment and discovered that a water bottle could burn a hole in a piece of paper, just like a magnifying glass.

Richardson stressed that the “perfect storm” of conditions would have to be present for this phenomenon to occur. Not only would the bottle and the liquid have to be clear, but sunlight would have to enter the car at just the right angle. Vehicles with tinted windows would likely not pose a similar risk, he said.

“The chances are slim, but not impossible,” he explained.

Swallowing liquid that has been boiling in a plastic water bottle in a hot car for a period of time can also have consequences for human health.

The manufacturing process of a bottle, its chemical composition, the outside temperature and how long the bottle is exposed to heat can all allow liquids to become contaminated with toxins, toxicologist and board-certified emergency medicine physician Dr. Stephanie Widmer told ABC News.

While research and expert opinions vary, the risk is not zero, Widmer said. It’s best to avoid drinking from plastic bottles that have been exposed to high temperatures until more conclusive research is available, she added.

Electronic devices with lithium batteries, such as a vape, electric scooter or toy, can also be dangerous if left in a hot car, Richardson said.

If the plastic casing around the battery melts and the lithium-ion battery is exposed to direct sunlight in addition to the high temperatures, there is a risk the battery will explode, Richardson said.

Other everyday items that experts warn against leaving in hot cars due to the risk of explosion include aerosol cans, soda cans and bottles, and cigarette lighters. Items commonly left in hot cars, such as sunscreen, medications, and alcohol, can all spoil, while eyeglasses and sunglasses can melt and warp.

The biggest danger is still leaving people in hot cars, often with fatal consequences.

According to Widmer, it’s important to remember that leaving children or pets in a parked car, even for a short time, is very dangerous and can even be fatal.

More than a dozen children have died this year after being left in cars in scorching temperatures. Nearly 1,100 children have died in hot cars since 1990, according to KidsAndCars.org.

Extreme heat is forecast for much of the US for the rest of the summer.