A281 car fire eyewitness recalls dramatic 'explosion' as firefighters battle blaze

A Guildford ^[1] woman who witnessed a "small explosion" when a Mercedes caught fire on the A281 ^[2] has praised firefighters for their efforts.

The 20-year-old, who wishes to remain anonymous, was driving home with her mother when she saw a blazing car fire near Debenhams at around 8.20pm on Wednesday (December 7).

She said: "We pulled over and I straight away got my phone out and called the emergency services, beating my mum to it.

Surrey car fires

"She got out to see if there was anyone still in the car, she saw some people crowded on the other side, helping the driver.

"By the time we got there it was a very small fire, so we guessed that it had only just happened."

Guildford fire station ^[3] sent out one appliance to the blaze after receiving a worried call from the eyewitness.

She added: "Once the fire brigade got there, there was a small explosion, but the fire brigade were very quick in getting the fire out.

"I am upset that so many people drove past this burning car.

"It seems like where they need to go is a lot more important than making an important call that could save someone's life.

"I would like to praise the fire service for getting there so quickly.

"This meant a lot to me because this was the first emergency call I've ever made and I suffer with anxiety, so I'm really happy that my panic attack stay away long enough for me to make the call."

Firefighter James Freestone said the cause of the fire was from a new battery the driver had fitted the day before.

He said: "We turned up and we put a lot of water on it.

"The car would have been a write off, the fire had damaged all the front and rear part.

"It was a fairly new Mercedes."

He added the road took around an hour to be reopened.

Surrey's Road Policing Unit confirmed that the driver and passenger of the car both got out safely and were uninjured.

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