Truck goes up in flames in Smith Co. driveway

TYLER, TX (KLTV) - An East Texas man watched as his recently acquired pick-up truck went up in flames in his driveway Wednesday.

Bronkell Allen, who lives on West 6th Street in Tyler,  said he and his wife had left their home and were gone only about 15 minutes when they got a call from a neighbor. The neighbor told Bronkell that he needed to return home, as his truck was on fire in the driveway, very close to the home.

Allen told us that the neighbor saw the fire, and he ran outside where a passerby was trying to use the garden hose in front of the Allens' home to put out the fire. The neighbor started trying to help, as well.

The fire kept shooting higher, making louder and louder booming noises, they told Allen, as they were trying to put it out.

Tyler Fire Department responded to the call and got the fire under control. The fire spread to the corner of the roof over the carport, but firefighters were able to extinguish it.

Allen said that he had only had the truck for about 7 months. He said someone on the scene asked if any recall work had been done on his truck, as 1997 F-150s have recalls issued that are related to fires. This was documented on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Allen said he does not know if any of those repairs had been made prior to his purchase of the truck.

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