By Tanya Steele
A young family is fortunate to be safe and well after their vehicle caught fire while they were driving through Launching Place on August 29.
Hillcrest Fire Brigade and Yarra Junction Fire Brigade CFA attended a reported car fire on Dalry Road at Launching Place at 4.42pm on 29 August, just outside the sewerage plant.
The passenger had noticed a number of warning lights started to come up and pulled over.
“When she pulled over, she realised there was smoke coming from the car – and so her and her three primary school aged children quickly exited the car,” Yarra Junction Captain Colin Dickson said.
A passer by had stopped at around the same time and encouraged the family to move quickly away from the smoking vehicle.
“It was a good thing, he did exceptionally well – they managed to make sure they were well clear of the car,” Mr Dickson said.
When CFA arrived the car was ‘fully involved’ and had volunteers get into breathing apparatus and ran a hose line out, then used truck mounted monitors to extinguish the fire.
“Once it was effectively out, we reopened the road – the kids were understandably a little shaken up but everyone was ok,” Mr Dickson said.
The incident was under control at 5.01pm and declared safe at 5.29pm.
CFA had two trucks on scene and so was Victoria Police.
“The cars waiting were great and understanding while we sorted it out,” Mr Dickson said.
The Yarra Junction fire brigade would like to thank the passer by who stopped and rendered assistance
The cause of the fire remains unknown.
