DRAMATIC footage shows how a smashed-up vehicle burst into flames on the premises of a Weymouth garage today.
Firefighters arrived ‘within minutes’ after an employee of Marsh Road Garages saw flames leaping from the bonnet of a written-off Peugeot 208 and rang the brigade.
The incident happened just after 9.30am at the vehicle yard in Weston Road, behind Asda and saw the vehicle “completely destroyed,” the fire service said.
Marsh Road recovery driver Mike Hughes was in the right place at the right time as he was driving past and saw flames, and was able to raise the alarm.
He said the car had exploded without warning due to a fault with the battery as the vehicle had been involved in a crash.
Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said the call came through at around 9:38am today.
One crew from Weymouth attended and firefighters in breathing apparatus used two hose reel jets to extinguish the fire, remaining on the scene until just after 10am.
Fortunately no other vehicles were damaged as the car was situated in the middle of the yard, and the fire did not have a chance to spread.
However the twisted and charred body of the vehicle was an alarming sight up-close – particularly given that it had been involved in a crash prior to the blaze.
Damage to the inside of the vehicle
Mr Hughes invited us into the office at the garage and explained how the written-off car had been delivered to Marsh Road Garages from another firm a few days prior.
“The previous owner had been involved in a crash so the front end of the vehicle was already smashed in.
“It was luck it was in the middle of the yard so no other vehicles were damaged,” he said.
He appeared unfazed by the incident and said he had witnessed many similar car fires over the years, as he recovers vehicles at the roadside after a car had been involved in an accident.
Firefighters have been praised for their quick response Picture: Mike Hughes
“I was literally just driving past the yard and saw it was on fire,” he said. “I rang the fire brigade and they were brilliant – they were here within a couple of minutes.
“I’ve dealt with hundreds of car fires over the years – the main concern was to stop the fire spreading to the other vehicles in the yard, particularly as the car was petrol and not diesel. We’ve been told not to tackle fires ourselves, otherwise I would have done so.”
A spokesperson for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “The vehicle was completely destroyed by fire; no casualties were reported. The stop came through at 9:51am and crews remained on scene until just after 10am.”
