Video filmed by Steve Tancreto, provided by Susan Tancerto.

The Samoa Peninsula Fire District extinguished a completely engulfed Toyota SUV burning on the Samoa Dunes yesterday evening. 

SPFD Chief Dale Unea told the Outpost this morning via email that firefighters were called to a fire located a quarter mile north of the Power Poles beach around 5:30 p.m. On scene, firefighters found a fully-involved SUV with a small amount of fire spreading to nearby vegetation. All occupants were safely out of the car.

“After initial fire attack with extinguishers, [the] fuel tank ruptured and exploded and caught more vegetation,” Unea wrote. 

As a result of the explosion, a Humboldt Bay Fire water tender was called to the scene to help fight the spreading dune fire.

After an hour of work, firefighters contained the fire to a half acre. An additional two hours of heavy mop-up was needed before the fire was completely extinguished.

The owner of the car remained on scene during the fire, and volunteered to help hike out 1,200 feet of hose out to the scene.