GAITHERSBURG, MD – A terrifying situation on Washington Boulevard turned into a story of local heroism Thursday evening when employees from a nearby veterinary hospital rushed out to fight a car fire.
Quick Thinking Saves Driver
The incident unfolded when staff members at the Veterinary Surgical Centers noticed flames shooting out from underneath a moving car. As hospital director Stephanie Lotenberg dialed 911, veterinary nurse Pat Simon and veterinary assistant Rachel Hunt grabbed fire extinguishers and ran toward the blaze.
The driver of the car, Regine Cineas, was completely unaware of the danger. She was listening to a podcast when a passing motorist honked to alert her. Cineas pulled over and jumped out of the vehicle just as the veterinary workers arrived with the extinguishers.
Handling The Blaze Like Pros
Surveillance video from the scene shows the two women approaching the burning vehicle to suppress the flames before emergency crews arrived. Interestingly, Simon admitted she had never even operated a fire extinguisher before Thursday night.
Experienced firefighters arrived shortly after to completely extinguish the fire and ensure the scene was safe.
A New Bond Formed
Fortunately, no injuries were reported. Cineas expressed immense gratitude for the fast actions of the veterinary team, noting that she plans to return to the hospital soon with homemade rum cake and pralines to thank them properly.
She also joked that since the staff handled a car fire so professionally, she is now considering bringing her temperamental French bulldog to their clinic for care.
