Bruce Lambert of Greensboro Manufacturing Road in Crumpler had just exited his 2000 Toyota Corolla Wednesday morning when it burst into flames. He could only watch as the car burned alongside NC 16N, but was grateful he made it out alive.

“I smelled gas and it started smoking under the dash, and I got 'er off the road and it was ablaze,” Lambert said as he watched firemen from Jefferson Fire Department put out the flames. “It was just in time.”

The fire started around 9:30 a.m.

Lambert said he didn't get anything out of the vehicle, and lost a new set of lug nuts he'd just bought for another vehicle. “I didn't get my keys out either,” he said.

Lambert said he was sorry to lose the car. “It was a good car. It got 37 miles per gallon,” he said.

Looking sadly at the smoking wreck, he added, “It won't get that no more.”