When car repairs go wrong

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Quick thinking kept a car fire from getting out of hand when repairs went awry in New Plymouth yesterday.

The fire brigade was called to a Waimea St property about 9.45am after the engine of a Ford Falcon caught fire.

Senior station officer Ian Drewery, of New Plymouth, said fuel leaking from a damaged line had ignited when an attempt was made to start the car.

"The owner thought there was no spark and he tried to start the car," Mr Drewery said.

"Obviously there's been a spark and the engine has caught fire."

The owner had got "a bit of a singe and a fright" but had thought to put the bonnet down, restricting oxygen to the fire, before calling the fire brigade, Mr Drewery said.

"You have to be very careful with car fires because obviously there's fuel involved but there's also a lot of rubber," he said.

"You don't want to get it on your skin and the fumes are really toxic."

New Plymouth police and fire services dealt with a car fire at Lake Mangamahoe on Saturday afternoon.

A Toyota Caldina stolen from a Hind St address overnight Friday was set on fire by the thieves and pushed into the lake. Police investigations are continuing.

- © Fairfax NZ News