Barbara Lawlor, Nederland.  On Friday, June 17, 2016, around 2:30 p.m. the Nederland Fire Protection District and Indian Peaks Fire Protection District received a report from Boulder County Communications dispatch that a vehicle was on fire in Gordon Gulch. The 2009 Mercedes 4-door sedan was fully engulfed in flames when the firefighters arrived.

The vehicle was on Forest Service Road 226, about 3/4 of a mile from the Peak to Peak Highway. It was a hot, dry day and the car fire had already ignited two trees and burned the dry grasses and deep duff near the car. Firefighters were able to quickly contain and extinguish the fire, saving it from becoming a wild land fire, but the Mercedes was a total loss.

According to the report, the owner of the vehicle and his friend were driving around Gordon Gulch looking for a campsite, but soon the forest service road became a 4-wheel drive road and while trying to maneuver a u-turn, the Mercedes became high-centered on a stump.

The driver tried to muscle his way back onto level ground by hitting the accelerator, which caused the vehicle to heat up and catch fire. The driver jumped out of the car and there was nothing to do but watch it burn until the firefighters arrived.