Search for
Search for
Search for'Fireball' car rolls down street
Wednesday, August 27, 2008, 09:56
Firefighters said it was lucky no damage was caused when the moving inferno rolled 75 yards along Magdalene Road near the town's courthouse.
It is thought the heat of the blaze melted the blue Ford Escort's brakes, allowing it to travel along the road before coming to rest against metal railings at Upton Park.
Before slipping away from its parking spot, the burning car's flames set light to a lock-up store containing antiques seized by bailiffs.
The store's door was badly damaged in the fire, although the contents remained unscathed.
Two fire crews attended the incident just after 3am yesterday.
Initially one crew responded after receiving a 999 call about rubbish being on fire in the street.
They arrived to find two separate blazes — the car and the store.
Red watch commander Mark Kitchen said: "It was a bit of a shock to find two seats to the fire, so I immediately called for another crew to attend.
"We dealt with the store while the second crew tackled the car which was well alight and already a write-off."
He added: "The moving car could have caused quite a bit of damage to other cars or even the premises nearby, but fortunately it ended up against the railings." Another parked car's rear number plate was damaged by the heat from the burning Escort.
Firefighters also noticed a Nissan truck parked in front of the slightly damaged car, a white Skoda Fabia, appeared to have been targeted by thieves.
They discovered the vehicle's front passenger window had been smashed, and a radio inside was missing. Police were informed.
Altogether three hosereels were used to tackle the two blazes together with a positive pressure ventilation machine.
Rob Foster, from Torbay Auto, Electrics in Magdalene Road turned up to work yesterday morning to discover the burnt out shell of the white L-registration Ford Escort resting against the fence near his garage.
He said: "There was a police car there when I got here and you can see where it was set on fire, and then it has rolled back and embedded itself against the fence.
"We get the odd abandoned car, but nothing like this, it must have been a bit of a blaze because it has scorched the tree above."
Contents of the bailiffs' store were not affected, although the premises were badly smoke-filled. Guttering and wooden boards were fire-damaged as was the door.
A police spokesman confirmed officers were treating the incidents as theft and arson.
Anyone with information about suspicious activity in the area should ring police on 08452 777444, quoting crime FT/08/7169.
Comment on this story