Car Fire Squelched Before Flames Spread to Sea Cliff Home

A Sea Cliff home was spared Friday afternoon when firefighters arrived in time to put out a fire in a car that was parked up against the house's side.

"They were here in four minutes," said neighbor Rose Gunter, who made the 911 call that sent the fire trucks to the Altamont Ave. blaze across the street from her home. 

Walter Miller had jump-started his 1986 Chrysler so he could move it several feet forward to make room for shingles to be hauled up to his roof. 

"I left the jumps on and went in the house. I was going to come out and start it again," said Miller, 83.

That's when Gunter heard four or five loud popping noises. Seeing flames growing from under the hood of the car, she called for help.

The Sea Cliff Fire Department responded and promptly put out the fire.

"I really appreciate the work they did here," said Miller, who has lived on the street for nearly half a century. "I ain't got much, I'm poor here, but every couple months I send a few dollars over to them."

Miller said he drives a van and the car has not been used for some time.