Fire Ravages Auto Outside Museum

Cambridge firefighters extinguished a flame that engulfed and destroyed a 1987 Chevrolet Monte Carlo outside the Peabody Museum yesterday.

Assistant Administrative Director of the Museum Barbara Weinberg and a companion who refused to identify herself were sitting in the car when the fire began.

Neither passenger sustained any injuries.

The fire, which firefighters said was the result of a mechanical failure in the engine, was first noticed by Associate Professor of Anthropology Carole A.S. Mandryk.

The professor quickly alerted the occupants after spotting flames underneath the car.

"Get out of the car, the engine's on fire!" said Mandryk, confused as to why Weinberg and her friend remained inside the car.

Weinberg and her friend scrambled out of the car while Mandryk called the Cambridge Fire Department.

Flames quickly consumed and destroyed the car shortly after the occupants exited. But Weinberg said the totaled car is insured.

Cambridge Police Lt. Dan Turner, who was part of yesterday's firefighting team, praised Mandryk for thinking on her feet.

"Thanks to her quick actions, serious injuries were averted," Turner said.