Fire crews tackle car blaze in Herne Bay

by Ed Targett

A driver has had a lucky escape after his car caught alight today – just yards from a fire station.

The man was driving the Ford Galaxy along Herne Bay High Street when smoke started billowing from the bonnet.

He pulled over to call emergency crews and firefighters were on the scene within minutes.

Fearing the blaze would grow if the door was opened, they cut the bonnet open using specialist bolt cutters before putting the fire out.

Kent Fire and Rescue spokesman Alan Bradford said: "We had an initial call at 12.24pm to reports of a Ford Galaxy on fire in Herne Bay High Street.

"Crews arrived at the scene at 12.25pm and the stop came through at 12.25pm, so they took 30 seconds to get there and 30 seconds to put it out, which is phenomenal."

Barry Field, who runs the nearby Sofa King shop, took the above picture.

He said: "The driver was lucky he was only 20 or 30 yards from the fire station.

"If it had been any longer the fire could have taken hold."