This Volkswagen Jetta was badly damaged early Sunday morning after a fire started in its back seat. — East Jefferson Fire-Rescue ()

This Volkswagen Jetta was badly damaged early Sunday morning after a fire started in its back seat. — East Jefferson Fire-Rescue ()

Quilcene man burns hands attempting to extinguish car fire

PORT TOWNSEND — East Jefferson Fire-Rescue firefighters are investigating the cause of a car fire in which a Quilcene man burned his hands.

Those 26-year-old man, who was not identified, was taken to Jefferson Healthcare hospital after he tried to put out a fire that started in the back seat of his Volkswagen Jetta early Sunday morning, said Bill Beezley, East Jefferson Fire-Rescue spokesman.

Firefighters were alerted to the fire at 3:18 a.m., Beezley said, and quickly put it out.

However, the car, which was parked near the water at the back of the parking lot east of Golden Ocean restaurant, was destroyed.

The man attempted to pat the fire out with his hands and then began throwing personal possessions out the back doors before evacuating the Jetta.

At one point, the Jetta rolled forward about 30 feet and struck the rear of a parked white Chevrolet panel van, according to Port Townsend police officer Jeremy Vergin.

A man who was sleeping in the van awoke, started the van and pulled forward away from the burning Jetta, Beezley said.

His van suffered heat damage from the other car, but he was uninjured.

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