Published: 6/22/2022 11:36:52 AM
Modified: 6/22/2022 11:34:29 AM
DEERFIELD — Motorists commuting on Routes 5 and 10 early Wednesday morning may have noticed flames and billowing smoke coming from a Volvo 940 on the roadside.
The fire, which started with the engine and quickly engulfed the car, occurred shortly before 9 a.m. near the intersection with Childs Cross Road. Deerfield Fire District firefighters arrived within 10 minutes, and the South Deerfield Fire District shortly thereafter. However, only equipment from the Deerfield department was needed to extinguish the blaze.
“We didn’t need to use our hoses,” said South Deerfield Fire District Lt. Bob Swasey.
“There were no injuries,” Deerfield Police Officer Bob Warger noted. “Everyone got out of the car before I got here.”
According to Nick Paine, owner of the Volvo, he was driving to work in Florence when the driver behind him flagged him down. As Paine slowed down, smoke started billowing out of his car.
“The guy who flagged me down helped me grab some stuff out of the car before it caught on fire,” Paine said as he stood next to a child’s booster seat and a box on the side of the road.
Paine said he had owned the Volvo since March. He does small repairs on his car, and hires a mechanic to do larger repairs.
“I had gone through the whole car. I just fixed the air conditioner and put on new lights,” he recounted. “This thing is toast.”
Contact Bella Levavi at blevavi@recorder.com 413-930-4579.