Eric, that's good advice. I had a similar problem with this car about 5 years ago. I'd replaced the flexible hose to the carbs (it's got webers) 6 years earlier, with fuel rated hose. I started it up, smelled fuel and switched off immediately. But not before something ignited the fuel that had leaked under the hood. Having an electric fuel pump meant there was more loose fuel than if the pump wax still mechanical.

I immediately hit the fire with an extinguisher and no major damage done - just a few burnt wires and a lot of soot in the engine bay.

A mechanic pal told me the ethanol in modern fuels can attack the hoses, make them brittle or crack. I now have it in the diary to replace those hoses every 4 years. Probably overkill, but cheap insurance.
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JohnH, Sydney, Australia