AN MD11 PRIOR TO PUSHBACK WITH THE WINDSHIELD HEAT ON THE FO'S WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND STARTED TO BURN WITH VISIBLE FLAMES. EMER DECLARED.

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PRIOR TO START AND PUSHBACK FO'S WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. I CALLED GND CTL AND DECLARED AN EMER AND ASKED FOR THE FIRE TRUCKS. I GAVE THE FO THE FIRE BOTTLE WHICH HE USED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THAT HE CANNOT EMPHASIZE ENOUGH THAT 'THE WHOLE GOD DAMMED WINDOW WAS ON FIRE FLAMES AND ALL.' THE RPTR SAID WHEN THE FIRE CHIEF ENTERED THE COCKPIT THE SHATTERED WINDOW WAS TOO HOT TO TOUCH. THE RPTR STATED HAD THIS HAPPENED A FEW MINS AFTER TKOF IT COULD HAVE BEEN UNCONTROLLABLE WITH THE WINDOW BLOWING INTO THE COCKPIT. THE RPTR SAID THE WINDSHIELD HEAT CIRCUIT BREAKERS DID NOT TRIP SHUTTING OFF PWR TO THE WINDSHIELD. THE RPTR STATED THE WINDSHIELD HAS 2 CIRCUITS; A HEAT CIRCUIT AND A DEFOG CIRCUIT AND WHERE THE CONDUCTIVE COATING IS LOCATED FOR EACH CIRCUIT IS UNKNOWN. THE RPTR SAID THE NTSB HAS TAKEN THE WINDOW ASSEMBLY; HEAT CTLR AND SOME OTHER WINDOW PARTS FOR INVESTIGATION. THE RPTR STATED WHEN RELATING THIS EVENT TO MAINT PEOPLE AND COMPANY EXECUTIVES THEY ARE SKEPTICAL; BUT WE SEEN IT HAPPEN.