On the way to garage, car bursts into flames

By OWEN BOSS
Staff Writer

NORTHAMPTON — Firefighters say a motorist on his way to get his car repaired Friday afternoon barely made it into the parking lot of a local repair shop before it burst into flames.

Deputy Fire Chief Steve Vanasse said firefighters responded to a report shortly after 1 p.m. that a car had coasted into the front parking lot of Pro Lube at 480 Pleasant St., and the hood was already smoking heavily.

John Richi, of New South Street in Northampton, who owns the business, said he rushed toward the vehicle with one of the garage’s fire extinguishers but decided to call for help after spotting flames coming from the car’s undercarriage.

The driver had fled from the car and was unhurt. The vehicle was deemed a complete loss, according to Vanasse.

“I ran out there with a fire extinguisher and could see that there were already some flames under the fenders and I figured I was in over my head at that point,” Richi said. “We have a bunch of really well-trained firefighters in this city for that sort of thing.”

Vanasse said the motorist, who he declined to identify, told firefighters he was on his way to get his 1995 Buick Park Avenue fixed when he got stuck in traffic on Interstate 91 and it started to overheat.

“The vehicle came off of 91 with some mechanical problems and the driver opted to go to the Pro Lube, where it became fully engulfed,” Vanasse said.

It took firefighters only a few minutes to extinguish the flames, Vanasse said, and the car was soon towed away from the scene.

The cause of the fire was likely mechanical, Vanasse said.

Owen Boss can be reached at oboss@gazettenet.com