Flaming car in Newark, CA
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Ok, this is sort of OT, but I thought you guys might get a kick out of this. I decided to hit up the Newark Harbor Freight for some tools and check out the nearby Pick n Pull to see if any E36s' and 944s' were lurking to be picked. As I exit Harbor Freight, I see people standing outside and the sky is foggy. Um.. ok, I guess this can happen...or not in 90 degree heat. Sure enough, the fog turned out to be smoke and it was coming from the other side of the parking lot.
So out with the camera phone and here is the pictorial narrative:
![](https://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/ms18e0080/08-15-08_1453.jpg)
I see smoke. As I get closer, it appears to be a Dodge Stratus (or similar shaped car).
![](https://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/ms18e0080/08-15-08_1454.jpg)
Smoke is coming from the engine bay.
![](https://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/ms18e0080/08-15-08_1455.jpg)
More smoke. Notice the doors and trunk are wide open. The owner was moving the stuff from his car to the curb of the parking lot! WTF!?
![](https://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/ms18e0080/08-15-08_1456.jpg)
Ok... more smoke. And it is starting to turn black.
![](https://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/ms18e0080/08-15-08_1457.jpg)
Uh oh... lots more black smoke!
![](https://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/ms18e0080/08-15-08_1458.jpg)
Oh snaps! The smoke engulfed the cabin!
![](https://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/ms18e0080/08-15-08_1459.jpg)
OH SH%T! FIRE!!!
![](https://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/ms18e0080/08-15-08_1500.jpg)
OMG!!! LOTS OF FIRE!!! (notice the white Kia next to the car). Oh, I hear the sirens...
![](https://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/ms18e0080/08-15-08_1501.jpg)
The police are the first to arrive. The blaze is getting bigger.
![](https://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/ms18e0080/08-15-08_1502.jpg)
Remember that Kia... notice the flames on the side. No, those are not stickers. That is real fire!
![](https://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/ms18e0080/08-15-08_1503.jpg)
The fire department finally arrive. They start dousing the car with water.
![](https://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/ms18e0080/08-15-08_1504.jpg)
Here is what is left of the car after the flames gutted the interior. Lovely.
![](https://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/ms18e0080/08-15-08_1505.jpg)
Much like a viral STD, this fire just does not want to go away. Notice the fire fighter with a gas powered abrasive saw cutting into the hood latch.
![](https://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/ms18e0080/08-15-08_1506.jpg)
8 minutes since the smoking began, the fire fighters still worked their way into the engine bay of the car...
I decided to not stick around as the fumes were pretty overwhelming.
And the Newark Pick n Pull only has a red 85 early model and it is half picked clean.
So out with the camera phone and here is the pictorial narrative:
![](https://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/ms18e0080/08-15-08_1453.jpg)
I see smoke. As I get closer, it appears to be a Dodge Stratus (or similar shaped car).
![](https://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/ms18e0080/08-15-08_1454.jpg)
Smoke is coming from the engine bay.
![](https://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/ms18e0080/08-15-08_1455.jpg)
More smoke. Notice the doors and trunk are wide open. The owner was moving the stuff from his car to the curb of the parking lot! WTF!?
![](https://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/ms18e0080/08-15-08_1456.jpg)
Ok... more smoke. And it is starting to turn black.
![](https://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/ms18e0080/08-15-08_1457.jpg)
Uh oh... lots more black smoke!
![](https://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/ms18e0080/08-15-08_1458.jpg)
Oh snaps! The smoke engulfed the cabin!
![](https://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/ms18e0080/08-15-08_1459.jpg)
OH SH%T! FIRE!!!
![](https://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/ms18e0080/08-15-08_1500.jpg)
OMG!!! LOTS OF FIRE!!! (notice the white Kia next to the car). Oh, I hear the sirens...
![](https://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/ms18e0080/08-15-08_1501.jpg)
The police are the first to arrive. The blaze is getting bigger.
![](https://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/ms18e0080/08-15-08_1502.jpg)
Remember that Kia... notice the flames on the side. No, those are not stickers. That is real fire!
![](https://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/ms18e0080/08-15-08_1503.jpg)
The fire department finally arrive. They start dousing the car with water.
![](https://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/ms18e0080/08-15-08_1504.jpg)
Here is what is left of the car after the flames gutted the interior. Lovely.
![](https://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/ms18e0080/08-15-08_1505.jpg)
Much like a viral STD, this fire just does not want to go away. Notice the fire fighter with a gas powered abrasive saw cutting into the hood latch.
![](https://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff298/ms18e0080/08-15-08_1506.jpg)
8 minutes since the smoking began, the fire fighters still worked their way into the engine bay of the car...
I decided to not stick around as the fumes were pretty overwhelming.
And the Newark Pick n Pull only has a red 85 early model and it is half picked clean.
#2
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I guess that guy waited a little too long to get his new parts and tools, and his car called it quits.
Funny/scary pics! I feel bad for the owner and for the owner of the Kia.
Funny/scary pics! I feel bad for the owner and for the owner of the Kia.
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The ironic thing is that Harbor Freight has fire extinguishers. That was why I was thinking WTF!? Why are you not running in there and buying fire extinguishers to save your car!?
The owner of the Kia was truly an innocent victim. I was also kind of surprised the owner of the Kia did not try to move the car when during the smoking phase. Maybe he/she was not in the crowd.
The owner of the Kia was truly an innocent victim. I was also kind of surprised the owner of the Kia did not try to move the car when during the smoking phase. Maybe he/she was not in the crowd.
#6
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Or just run in there and steal a fire extinguisher (with the intent to return and pay)... Even if the management wanted to be jerks and file theft charges, I'd rather do a little time than let my car burn an extra minute while I wait in line...