NOBODY expects to look out the window and see a high-velocity fireball coming towards their home.
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But that's exactly what residents of one Kings Meadows street witnessed yesterday.
The McDougall Street ball of flames was actually a van which authorities are still uncertain as to how it caught fire.
Resident Riley Neville said he saw the van billowing smoke at the top of his street.
Soon the fire melted the van's brakes, he believes, and it started rolling down the road before crashing into a tree, engulfing it in flames.
"Luckily it hit the tree because it was coming towards these houses," he said.
"And by the time it hit the tree it it was an inferno."
Launceston fire brigade District Officer John Hazzlewood said crews from Ravenswood and Launceston quickly extinguish the blazing car and tree.
Fire investigators were examining the fire's cause while police were locating the van's owners, he said.
Mr Hazzlewood reiterated it was lucky a tree had stopped the van going onto a resident's property.
Fire crews were kept busy yesterday putting out deliberately lit fires in Mayfield.
"It's extremely frustrating, we've been chasing them around all day," Mr Hazzlewood said.
"They're putting other peoples lives at risk ... we've got warmer weather coming.
"With higher fire danger they're going to be dangerous to the locals."
Meanwhile a small accidental fire broke out in an administrative building in the Launceston health precinct yesterday.
The Anne O'Byrne building sits on the corner of Howick and Charles Streets.
The fire was caused by welding work on the building's outside which ignited debris in a wall cavity.
About 100 staff were evacuated from the building with only minor damage caused.
A government statement said asbestos being removed from the building was not disturbed by the fire.