My alternator lit on fire, what is wrong with my 1997 nissan maxima?---very hard question!!?

im driving down the road and the battery light and the parking brake light come on. The battery had 12 volts and the brake light was only half illuminated, there is one common splice for the two dummy lights behind the instrument panel that i didn't get a chance to look at. The alternator was producing 14 volts at the time. Then a day later unrelated electrical components started to freak--my auto climate control turning on unexpectedly, my dome light was very very bright, and all of my interior lights were bright. Then my headlights both blew but i was still able to drive home, retest the alternator and battery (both fine) then 2 days following i started the car and the alternator lit on fire??? the car was in excellent shape but i don't know how much money im going to have to put in it or even where to start diagnosing. I know the PCM does not control the above mentioned systems which were all run by switches and im also uming the alternator was not the cause of its meltdown being that it was within spec ( but i really don't know for sure) PLEASE HELP ME