FITCHBURG — A 1997 Mazda pickup truck belonging to Eric Yacullo of Water Street in Fitchburg caught fire in front of the Enterprise car rental shop on Water Street on Thursday, Jan. 22, at about 3:45 p.m.

Yacullo said he saw smoke coming from the vents and stopped the truck.

A passerby came up and told him, “Bro, get out of the car,” Yacullo said.

He got out to investigate what was causing the smoke and opened the hood and saw that the truck was on fire, though it was not obvious what the cause was. He said he slammed the hood of the truck back down and shut the engine off, but it then became fully engulfed in flames.

Fitchburg Fire Department Group 3 Engine 4 and Rescue 3 crews responded to the fire.

Yacullo was not injured, though he said he was mentally distraught over losing his truck. He said he had “no idea” what caused the fire.

The truck was a complete loss. Also destroyed in the fire were a small boat that was on a rack in back, as well as a two boat motors, a boat battery, a metal detector and a tool box.

This pickup truck belonging to Eric Yacullo of Water Street in Fitchburg caught fire in front of the Enterprise car rental shop on Water Street on Thursday, Jan. 22, at about 3:45 p.m.
(FITCHBURG FIRE DEPARTMENT)