Blazing runaway ute smashes through wall of unit complex
Video has captured the moment a parked ute burst into five-metre high flames, rolled down a hill and crashed into a Canberra unit block after the fire burnt through the handbrake.
Police arrived on the scene at Jim Pike Avenue, Gordon on Saturday night to find the vehicle already alight.
Officers noticed several fuel cans in the tray and watched on helplessly as the flames quickly escalated.
The intensity of the heat caused the brakes to malfunction, police said, and within minutes of arriving the fireball was moving down a hill towards an apartment complex.
Officers can be seen on dash cam footage chasing after the runaway ute before it crashed into the building.
"Police were unable to extinguish the fire and observed a number of fuel 'jerry' cans in the back of the vehicle," authorities said in a statement.
"The extreme heat of the fire caused the [handbrake] cable to malfunction and disengage.”
The destruction continued after the damaged unit also caught fire, however emergency crews were able to contain the fire to one bedroom.
A trail of fire following the ute down the hill was also extinguished.
Police believe the fire to be ‘non-suspicious’ and have confirmed that no one was hurt in the incident.
