Reus was affected on Sunday evening when a car caught fire near a petrol station on the C-14 Montblanc road, sending a large column of black smoke across the city. All three people inside escaped unharmed before the vehicle was destroyed by flames.
The smoke plume drew attention from residents in Reus, especially as the extraordinary Tronada celebration for Corpus was taking place in Plaça del Mercadal, according to Diari de Tarragona.
Emergency services received the alert through the 112 emergency line at 20:39. A unit from the Bombers de la Generalitat went to the scene and found the car fully engulfed in flames. The Guàrdia Urbana de Reus was already there and had cordoned off the burning vehicle.
The three occupants had already got out and kept a safe distance from the fire. The car was only a few metres from the petrol station, which added to concern among people nearby.
Firefighters spent nearly an hour putting out the blaze and cooling hot spots to prevent it from reigniting, officials said. By about 22:00, the situation was under control, the smoke had cleared, and there was no longer any risk to the public.
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