A car erupted in flames in downtown Cape Coral, leaving behind melted parts, shattered glass, and a lingering smell, as firefighters investigate the cause.
CAPE CORAL, Fla. —
A car burst into flames in a downtown Cape Coral parking lot off Southeast 47th Terrace around midnight Friday, leaving behind extensive damage and a strong odor.
Nakisha Camacho, owner of Hair Artistry Salon, said it was why she had a scary start to her day.
“I woke up at six this morning to over 22 phone calls from WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, all telling me that there’s a car on fire in front of my shop,” Camacho said.
The aftermath, along with the smell, is left behind.
“I mean, as the owner of Hair Artistry, it’s burnt hair. That’s what it smells like. It’s funky,” Camacho said.
Derrick Walker, who works at The Plug Barbershop next door, shared video with Gulf Coast News.
“Those signs say violators would be towed. I don’t know whose car it is, but I’m sorry, but we need these parking spots,” Walker said.
The fire left glass and ash scattered across the ground, with the heat curling the glass from the headlights.
“The car was on fire when they pulled up, but maybe they didn’t know. Then it was like five or six minutes later it started blaze and it was– started really blazing,” Walker said.
Firefighters are still investigating the cause of the fire. Despite the incident, Camacho and Walker expressed relief that their businesses were not damaged.
Camacho said, “We got through COVID, we got through Ian. Now this would have been the reason why, oh, I would have had the big one.”
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