Man flees car as engine bursts into flames

The 65-year-old had been driving to the dentist when he was forced to abandon the vehicle after he stopped to investigate a burning smell.

Douglas Cutt was travelling through from Edinburgh to Saltire Dental Practice in Glenrothes, when the drama unfolded.

He said: “I first smelled it near Cluny Clays and I just thought it was wood being burned but the smell persisted.

“Only after I pulled into the car park of the practice did I notice smoke coming into the drivers compartment so I opened the bonnet and saw there was flames coming out of the engine.”

Three carbon dioxide fire extinguishers were then used to try and put out the fire, however, these all failed.

Another client of the practice phoned the fire brigade, who arrived quickly to extinguish the flames.

Meanwhile Douglas was forced to wait until 7pm until his car could be recovered.

Douglas also suffers from type two diabetes, so while he waited for them to arrive he had to make sure he could get something to eat. The dentist kindly took him to the kitchen so Douglas could get something to eat. He was able to get some fruit and fresh bread and then his dentist let him sit in their car and sat with him until the recovery service arrived.

The dentist then travelled with Mr Cutt back to Edinburgh until the car was dropped off at a garage by the tow truck.

Douglas said he would like to thank everyone at Saltire Dental Practice for their help, and feels they deserve special recognition for everything they did.