A classic American muscle car narrowly escaped destruction after bursting into flames at a petrol station in Oxfordshire, with quick-thinking bystanders helping to extinguish the blaze before emergency crews arrived.
The incident happened on Saturday at a Tesco petrol station in Abingdon, where the BBC reported a 1979 Pontiac Firebird suddenly caught fire shortly after being refuelled.
Among those who witnessed the dramatic event was Alan Mutton, from Kennington, who had been admiring the rare vehicle moments before flames erupted from underneath it.
Rare Classic Draws Attention
Mutton said he had noticed the distinctive Firebird when its owner arrived at the forecourt. The classic American car quickly attracted attention due to its rarity and striking appearance.
“As I was filling up my car, this chap arrives in this big American heavy Trans Am, so we got out, had a look at it and took some photographs,” Mutton recalled.
“It’s not something you see often and it was obviously this guy’s pride and joy, so he was pleased to show us.”
The Pontiac Firebird is an iconic American performance car that first entered production in the 1960s. It became particularly famous during the 1970s after actor Burt Reynolds drove a black and gold Firebird Trans Am in the hit film Smokey and the Bandit. The model was never officially sold in the UK, making examples on British roads relatively uncommon and highly prized by enthusiasts.
Flames Erupt Without Warning
However, the admiration for the vintage vehicle quickly turned into alarm.
Mutton explained that both he and the owner had completed refuelling when he suddenly noticed flames emerging from beneath the car.
“I looked across and the flames erupted,” he said.
The fire spread rapidly, generating intense heat that could be felt from several metres away. Recognising the danger, Mutton immediately moved his own vehicle away from the forecourt before rushing to retrieve a fire extinguisher.
“I could feel the blasts of the heat from the flames,” he said. “I drove my car away, up near the fire extinguishers, jumped out of the car, grabbed the fire extinguisher, and ran back and started to have a go at putting the flames out.”
Bystanders Help Save Vehicle
Mutton, the Firebird’s owner and other members of the public worked together to tackle the blaze. They used multiple fire extinguishers in an effort to stop the flames, which repeatedly reignited.
“We emptied every extinguisher that we had we could see and luckily, by the last one, the flames had thankfully gone out because they kept reigniting,” he said.
Their efforts proved successful, bringing the fire under control before firefighters from Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service arrived at the scene.
No injuries were reported during the incident, and the swift response from those present is believed to have prevented the fire from causing more serious damage or spreading to nearby fuel pumps and vehicles.
While the cause of the blaze has not been confirmed, the incident serves as a reminder of the challenges associated with maintaining and operating older vehicles, particularly rare classics that remain cherished by collectors and motoring enthusiasts.
Thanks to the actions of several bystanders, one owner’s prized piece of automotive history was saved from what could have been a devastating loss.