Mass. Ave. Auto Bursts Into Flames

A vacant Hyundai Excel burst into flames yesterday in front of the apartments at 1200 Mass. Ave. gutting the car and setting off fire alarms within the building. No one was injured.

According to a Cambridge fire official the car is owned by Lou Ann Olejarz of Saugus, Mass. Olejarz could not be reached for comment.

The cause of the fire is still being investigated, but Lt. Paul Mahoney of the Cambridge Fire Department said a short circuit probably started an electrical fire.

"When we got here, the car was just burning up," Mahoney said. "We smashed through the back window and put it out quickly."

Residents of 1200 Mass. Ave. whose fire alarms were activated from the smoke said firefighters exitngiushed the blaze quickly.

"I was looking out the window and the car was smoking," said Edward W. Wagner, a resident. "The firemen put it out pretty quick, though."