Reminds me of an incident I came accross whilst doing a ver' ver' early morning patrol in that there Bourne End.
My crewmate and I were engaged in a bit of JDA* at about 0200 when we detected the odour of burning plastic.
We followed our noses (which for those of you that know me will understand is quite easy for me. I wasn't known as Big Nose for nothing) and discovered a car in a parking bay which had a fire inside the cab. After a quick check of the cab we were happy it was unoccupied
It was small but beyond the capabilties of our fire extinguisher. Not only couldn't we put the fire out, we couldn't identify the owner of the burning car or the one next to it as they were both PKO+.
The fire was rapidly expanding and after about 5 minutes, had started to bubble the paintwork on the car next to it. We were knocking on doors and trying to wake people to try and get the soon to be badly damaged car moved. No one we raised knew who the cars belonged to.
Shit then got very weird.
The first car was by now very much alight. Suddenly the engine fired into life........
Both crewmate and I looked at each other and I could see he was thinking WTF?$ as was I. I had a good look around the area and found no trace of Steven King, a 58 Chevy or anything else scary for that matter. At this point the Cavalry** arrived and saved the day but not the second vehicle which was by now also well alight.
We suspect that the engine started because the fire had melted insulation on the ignition loom in the cab and allowed the most definitive case of 'Hot Wiring' that I have ever seen.
I dread to think how things would have progressed if the car had been left in gear.
*JDA- Just Driving Around
+ Previous Keeper Only
$ You really need to ask?
** Bucks Fire and Rescue