Friday, February 08, 2013

Strange Fires

I feel like I'm skirting the edge of Twilight Zone territory. On Wednesday evening, a truck caught fire on the Causeway bridge and then managed to end up in the water. I didn't see it, as I had--fortunately--passed through a couple of hours before the event. I heard a lot about it though. When divers got to the submerged truck there was no one inside and so far I haven't heard anything else about it.

Although strange, it's not unheard of for such a thing to happen. That doesn't evoke Twilight Zone music.  BUT, Thursday morning, while I was going across the Causeway Bridge to work, I spotted a column of black smoke rising from the bridge ahead of me. Traffic soon came to a stop and we waited about 45 minutes before we could proceed. As I passed the sight of the accident I saw a burned vehicle pulled off to the side.

That's two vehicle fires in two days on the Causeway. A little weird.

Transport yourself to Friday morning. I'm on my way to work. I get off the Causeway Bridge safely and turn down Airline Highway toward work. I see smoke rising up ahead, but off the road, and as I pass an area along the train tracks I see a car on fire. There's no one around it but the engine is blazing pretty good.

Three car fires in three days!  Two that I witnessed personally and all three along routes that I take to work! The Twilight Zone music is ringing in my head right now. I guarantee you.

As I was telling my friend, Lisa about it, she looked at me strangely and said she'd seen a car fire this week as well, as she was going to Baton Rouge. She thinks it was Monday but wasn't absolutely sure, and the car on fire had been involved in a crash.

Four car fires in a week!  To heck with Twilight Zone music. My Spidey sense is tingling.
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33 comments:

Tom Doolan said...

This seriously sounds like the setup for one of those suspense/horror movies...

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I'd keep a fire extinguisher in my car.

Heather said...

Duh duh duuuuunnnnnnn! Could be a fun premise for a short story?

Merisi said...

None will happen the next ten years, I suppose. ;-)

Merisi said...

None will happen the next ten years, I suppose. ;-)

Adventuresfantastic said...

Cue Rod Serling: For your consideration, Charles Gramlich, a man who drives to work. He's about to take a detour. Into the Twilight Zone.

Charles Gramlich said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Charles Gramlich said...

Tom Doolan, absolutely, and I've got some ideas! :)

I'm thinking of buying one today.

Heather, if it's not TRUE. :)

Merisi, I'd be ok with that.

Keith, yeah, I can hear that in my head right now.

pattinase (abbott) said...

Weird things seem to happen in multiples, don't they?

Deka Black said...

Charles, almost seems as someone casted a evil eye to that roads you use. is creepy

G. B. Miller said...

Imagine if you will....you have not entered, The Twilight Zone.

Instead, you've stepped into the Night Gallery.

Charles Gramlich said...

Patti, definitely.

Deka, I know. I'm freaked out about it. a little bit anyway.

G.B., that could be worse.

Prashant C. Trikannad said...

Charles, sounds like the handiwork of car arsonists. If not then there's definitely something spooky goin' on there.

ivan said...

Well, back in the days when I was a Toronto Star reporter, the bureau chief remarked to me that when a thing happens three times, it's a fact.

Yep. You're in the Twilight Zone all right.

BernardL said...

The last time we had something like that happen out here it was in the eighties, and a new fuel mix was eating through the rubber fuel lines on older vehicles. I'm the same as others here. I keep an extinguisher in the car.

Vesper said...

Hmmm, this looks like material for "Supernatural"... :-)

Oscar Case said...

A bundle of insurance money to collect. As soon as a car gets in a crash around here, the driver gets out and runs like Hell.

A said...

I had a similar experience during the summer, coming onto the main road out from where I live there were 2 vehicle fires in two days. Freaky.

Charles Gramlich said...

Prashant, Lisa mentioned that possibility.

Ivan, unless you have come down here and are setting them. :)

Bernard, interesting. I'm really thinking of getting an extinguisher. I could see how a mix could be the problem.

Vesper, maybe they are filming here and we don't know it.

Oscar, the one explosion and flip into the lake was very weird and they haven't located the driver yet

"A", strange. Much like my situation. Don't know what to make of it.

Golden Eagle said...

Wow, that's really strange. Sounds too systemic to be random as well.

Riot Kitty said...

That is creepy. Glad none of those cars was yours.

Ty said...

No fire, but I did see a pick-up truck on its side a few days ago. The truck and driver were fine, but the little Honda that smashed into the truck's side was gone from the dash forward, and the Honda's driver was in pretty bad shape, though managed to climb into the ambulance on his own feet.

Rachel V. Olivier said...

That is awfully coincidental. It's time to call the Scooby gang together and see what's what.

Cloudia said...

I think you are working on a story


Sending YOU Aloha
from Honolulu,
Comfort Spiral
~ > < } } ( ° >

Charles Gramlich said...

Golden Eagle, I'm not leaving the house tomorrow.

Riot kitty, indeed!

Ty, I don't think most accidents involve fires but we've had a couple in the last few days. Definitely strange.

Rachel, yes, the case of the strange fires.

Cloudia, maybe.:)

the walking man said...

The very first question I have is were these vehicles, truck included, recovered and repaired from Katrina? That would explain a lot because if they had not been totally rewired with new wire it's about time for corrosion build up to get to dangerous levels. I doubt they were fuel fires at first anyway because the fuel system is completely encased like the brake system.

Greg said...

Wow, that is really strange. Most people probably never see four car fires in their whole lives. Maybe there's a story in there somewhere....

Charles Gramlich said...

Mark, of the two I saw, one was newer than Katrina. The other might have been a Katrina car. Not sure.

Greg, I've seen maybe three or four in my life, 53 years and counting.

laughingwolf said...

time for hydrogen-powered cars?

jodi said...

Charles, that IS an amazing number of 'carbeques'! Odd indeed.

Charles Gramlich said...

Laughingwolf, amen, brother.

Jodi, carbeques. I wish I'd thought of that.

Travis Cody said...

That is weird. I think I've maybe seen two car fires, live and in person, that I remember during my driving career.

Charles Gramlich said...

Travis Cody, I've maybe seen five or six before. Not many in 54 years