MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) – The Mobile Fire-Rescue Department rescued a woman after downed power lines ignited her car Friday afternoon.

It happened about 4:26 p.m. in the 7700 block of Hitt Road.

According to the MFRD, crews arrived on the scene to find a power pole down. Nearby, its high-voltage power lines had fallen onto the roof of a Toyota Camry that had been driving down Hitt Road.

One of three downed power lines fell on the car and ignited the car’s ceiling liner, fire officials said.

Firefighters were able to slide a 10-foot-long nonconductive pike pole onto the roof of the car to keep the wire from contacting it. Then they used a 6-foot pike pole to open the car door and helped the driver to safety

Fire officials said the melting materials in the car eventually set it on fire. Once Alabama Power de-energized the arcing power lines, firefighters used water and foam to put out the fire.

“It was a bad situation, getting worse as time went on. We were very fortunate to get her out of there,” Capt. Charles Andrews said.

District 4, Engines 26 and 11, and Truck 27 worked at the incident.

No injuries were reported.

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