A truck exploded into flame last night after striking a moose on the TCH 8 km west of Whitbourne, but luckily just the right person passed by the scene.

Whitbourne Fire Chief Jamie Budden was driving back from Clarenville when he happened on the burning pickup, which had a trailer with an ATV attached.

Budden had been in Clarenville for fire fighting training.

He told VOCM News it’s rare he’s the one calling 9-1-1, but that was his first move. When his own fire crew arrived, they found him giving first aid to the two passengers, a man and woman, who had been able to get out.

They were able to save the trailer and the quad attached, but it still took an hour and a half to douse the fire, even after calling for backup from the Norman’s cove fire crew as well.

The two passengers were taken to St. John’s with undetermined injuries.