Car goes up in flames after fire spreads from furniture dumped for council pickup

A Manly resident said he was “devastated” after furniture dumped at the back of a unit block caught fire and tore through his car on Monday night.

Robert Morgan with the burned-out shell of his beloved 1988 Toyota Camry, where it was parked in Pacific Lane, Manly. A pile of rubbish placed next to the car was set on fire, destrying the car. Picture: Troy Snook

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A Manly resident said he was“devastated” after furniture dumped at the back of a unit block caught fire and tore through his car on Monday night.

Robert Morgan said that about 8.15pm he heard a commotion outside his Pacific Lane home and when he looked over his back fence he saw smoke billowing from the lane.

“There were fireys everywhere and huge flames coming out the back of my car,” he said.

Mr Morgan said by the time he got outside the furniture fire had been put out by the fire crews and they were working on the car.

The burned-out shell of Robert Morgan's beloved 1988 Toyota Camry. Picture: Troy Snook

A spokesman for Fire & Rescue said large furniture items as well as whitegoods were extinguished by the crews using water and foam. A fuel leak, as a result of the car fire, was also stopped by crews before it reached nearby drains.

A council spokesman confirmed the rubbish had been booked to be picked up yesterday.

Mr Morgan said he had put a lot of hard work into his 1988 Toyota Camry over the past five years.

“Just three weeks ago I put a brand new water pump in it,” he said.

Since the fire more pieces of furniture have been added to the pile. Picture: Troy Snook

“I resprayed it two years ago (and) put a new motor in.

“I bought it cheap but I’ve just really looked after it – I’m devastated it’s gone.”

Mr Morgan said while he would be reimbursed $4000 for the car through his insurance it had a value much greater than money.

Mr Morgan said the small piece of land at the back of the unit block had been a trouble spot for furniture dumping.

“There were mattresses there. Pillows, everything,” he said.

While the cause of the fire is not yet known, police are not treating it as suspicious.