Crime & Safety

Car Caught Fire En Route to Londonderry

Windham Fire Chief Tom McPherson said the increased percentage of ethanol in the gasoline made extinguishing the fire difficult.

The driver of a Mini Cooper was headed to the Auto Auction of New England in Londonderry on Wednesday when his vehicle began smoking and later burst into flames on Interstate 93 in Windham, according to Windham Fire Chief Tom McPherson.

Two units, one engine and an additional tanker, responded to the scene near Exit 3 on the northbound side. The incident was reported just after 3 p.m.

According to McPherson, the male driver of the vehicle smelled smoke and saw fire coming from the vehicle while driving. He was able to pull over and exit the car before the larger fire started.

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Traffic was halted while the fire was doused, which McPherson said took a good 20 minutes.

He said that the fire was "kind of stubborn to put out," which is why the additional tanker was called for. The car also leaked gas while firefighters were working to smother the flames.

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According to McPherson, increased ethanol in the gasoline posed a challenge as the everyday foam used by fire departments doesn't always work.

Windham Fire hasn't yet determined exactly what caused the fire, although he said something must have gone awry in the engine compartment.

Just over 10 months ago, a car burst into flames on the southbound side of I-93 near the Exit 3 weigh station. The driver in that incident, a Methuen resident, wasn't able to get out of the vehicle before the car's interior caught fire and he later died from major second- and third-degree burns.


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