Car catches fire on East Joy Circle

Photo by VONNA KEOMANYVONG, Eagle staff

The Marco Island Fire-Rescue Department extinguishes a car fire Tuesday evening on East Joy Circle. The driver of the Mercedes was on her way to the store when the engine caught fire.

Donna Dawber was on her way to the store this evening when her '79 Mercedes caught on fire on East Joy Circle.

"(The car) kicked back and there was a burst of fire on the driver's side," she said. "So I stopped it, put it in park and jumped out."

No one was injured.

The Marco Island Fire-Rescue Department was dispatched to the scene at 5:15 p.m., said MIF-RD Deputy Chief Chris Byrne.

"On our arrival we found a Mercedes convertible with a fire involving the engine compartment beginning to affect the passenger compartment," he said. "Firefighters rapidly extinguished the fire. It was a very routine car fire."

Donna's husband, Danny, said it had been about a week since the couple had driven the car and that it has never had any problems.

"We just got it started," he said. "It was our Sunday driving around car."

The car fire will be investigated Wednesday by the fire investigator.