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Edward's recent post reminded me my own personal encounter with a flaming vehicle. About ten years ago, my family plus my mum and dad were driving down to Dover to catch the car ferry to France for a brief tour of the Pas-de-Calais. With my father driving, we'd started very early in the morning, and had made good speed as we drove into Dover with the ferry terminal only about a mile away.
Sitting in the back, I wasn't really awake, but a persistent and loud series of horn blasts from the car behind roused me. I peered out to the rear of the car to see what all the fuss was about and noticed a large plume of smoke billowing out from the back of the Mercedes. "Dad, the car's on fire", I found myself saying, wondering really if I was still asleep and dreaming.
We pulled over very quickly to the side of road, just by a bridge, and jumped out. Thick smoke and flickering flames were coming from the rear by the exhaust. I got out my film camera and started shooting – the insurance company might appreciate the shots, I thought.
At first, I expected a rapid conflagration but the car was diesel and diesel does not burn like petrol, thank goodness. My father, perhaps rather foolhardily, even popped the trunk and began dragging out smoldering suitcases.
There he is, getting stuff from the back seat.
Maybe not the smartest plan. Nonetheless, he got a lot of things out and got no burns in the process. Amazingly.The fire spread further as the fuel heated up. By now, several cars had stopped by and people were calling the fire services on their mobile phones. Fairly quickly after that, a fire engine pulled up.In just a few minutes the fire was out, the burned-out Mercedes sat by the side of the road, a sorry sight indeed.My dad still wanted to go on to France, but the rest of us were too shook up to think about anything but going home and resting. We hired a car, and I drove sedately back to the house.
I never did get an answer as to what exactly caused the fire. But the insurance company paid up, I'm glad to say.
Dacotah said:
Thank God no one was hurt. Surprised your dad didn't see the smoke in his rear view mirror or you guys didn't smell the smoke. Great shots.
musickna said:
Hi Carol, thanks, yes it was a lucky escape. :eyes: We were driving so fast on the motorway into Dover that I think any smoke and burning smell was blown away behind us. It was only when we had to slow down for the town traffic that the smoke became clear.
edwardpiercy said:
Amazing!The best type of adventure story — one with a happy ending. Great photos too. :up:
PainterWoman said:
Oh Wow! Great story and photos! I think I'd have been screaming at your dad to get away from the car. But then I'm so used to seeing cars blowing up in the movies that that's what I would have expected to happen. So lucky for all of you.
musickna said:
People were screaming at my dad to get away from the car, but he took no notice, Pam! That's my dad! ;)Thanks, Edward – it seemed like a little bit too much adventure at the time, I have to say. 😆
musickna said:
Thank you, Linda 🙂 – I think they were just about the last photos I took using film.
L2D2 said:
Great pictures, Richard. And a harrowing, but exciting, experience.
Stardancer said:
Wow. I'm so glad you're here, Richard.:whew::heart:
musickna said:
I'll say, Carol! I shudder to think what would have happened if we hadn't pulled over when we did.
musickna said:
Thank you, Star! Me too! 🙂
Dacotah said:
Hi Richard, lucky that person honked their horn to get your attention too.
Dacotah said:
Me too, and like you said lucky it was diesel.:)
sanshan said:
Wow. I don't think I would've been calm enough to take pictures like that. Scary stuff.
studio41 said:
"the insurance company might appreciate the shots, I thought." you are a true photographer, Richard! (always on assignment it sounds like!) glad you were all okay!
BabyJay99 said:
:eyes: :faint:
CultureSurfer said:
:yikes: Looks like a movie!
edwardpiercy said:
@ Naomi. 😆 Yeah like one of those disaster movies from the 70s — Car Fire 2000. I just hope they don't make a sequel!
musickna said:
😆 No, no sequels please!
CultureSurfer said:
😆
BabyJay99 said:
😆