ROCKLAND — A Cushing woman jumped from her burning Ford Explorer in the nick of time this morning, thanks to a man on the sidewalk who noticed fire under her engine hood, and flames trailing from the vehicle as she drove along Main Street (Route 1) in the north end of Rockland.

Charles Wilton, of Rockland, flagged Laurie Hutchinson down just before noon near the intersection of Main and James street. She pulled over next to a building owned by Everett Spear Trust, and she, as well as a passenger, jumped out, managing just to grab their purses and phones before fire consumed the Ford.

Rockland Fire and EMS responded with five firefighters, who doused the flames with 500 gallons of water. 

When they arrived, the 2000 Ford was “heavily engulfed,” said Rockland’s Interim Fire Chief Adam Miceli.

Earlier this morning, Feb. 18, Hutchinson had visited a mechanic, and reported the vehicle had a problem with its fuel system, Miceli said.

The vehicle was demolished, to the point that pinpointing the exact cause of the fire would be more than difficult.

Miceli said the river of flame behind the SUV indicated that it had a fuel system issue, and was leaking gas.

The fire also melted some of the trim on the Spear building and the Fire Department removed some of the siding there to ensure the building was not burning, as well.

There were no injuries.

Reach Editorial Director Lynda Clancy at lyndaclancy@penbaypilot.com; 207-706-6657