Car Bursts Into Flames on H Street NE

(Updated at 3:45 p.m.) Flames and black smoke poured out of a car parked on H Street NE this afternoon.

The fire on the northwest corner of 10th and H streets NE, in front of Park’s Hardware (920 H St. NE), broke out before 1 p.m. and blocked westbound traffic on H Street, police said.

Eyewitness Kevin Williams said he saw smoke start to pour out of the closed windows of the navy blue Audi A6 as he walked along H Street. Then, the seemingly unattended car burst into flames.

“I thought it was going to blow up,” he said.

Images captured at the scene show red flames jumping about 20 feet high. Firefighters hosed down and extinguished the blaze in about a minute, the images show.

Firefighters were on the scene about 12:50 p.m., D.C. Fire and EMS spokesman Oscar Mendez said. No injuries were reported.

The Audi with shattered windows, charred seats and a bent hood was still at the curb about 2:30 p.m. The driver’s side door was ajar, and broken glass and other debris covered the streetcar tracks.

Testing of a westbound streetcar appeared to be momentarily delayed about a half block east of the fire about 1:30 p.m. Testing was later resumed.

Firefighter photos courtesy of Edward Foster