Eric Killorin

Fri Jul 12 2013 22:05:31 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A 1957 Ford Fairlane burst into flames Thursday afternoon along southbound Highway 101 in Atascadero.

The Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner caught fire near the Santa Rosa Road exit just after 3 p.m., according to the California Highway Patrol. The driver was reportedly traveling from Pleasanton to a car club meeting at the Embassy Suites in San Luis Obispo.

A Cal Fire firefighter — who was passing by in a truck equipped with only hand tools and a fire extinguisher — initially tried to put out the fire; the Atascadero Fire Department arrived moments later to finish the job.

No one was hurt in the fire, and a tow truck was called 20 minutes after the incident was reported, the CHP said. The cause of the fire was unknown Thursday afternoon.

1910isolde

Fri Jul 12 2013 22:46:01 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Is this the hardtop retractable version? I wonder if it was an electrical fire? Super sad.

Heavyfoot

Mon Jul 15 2013 17:54:53 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

That's it, I'm keeping an industrial size fire extinguisher in my trunk at all times.