Father Who Drove Through Wildfire Describes Harrowing Escape

ROWLEY (WBZ-AM) -- "Now that I look at it all, I realize how frightening it really was," says Charles Bilton, the father heard in a now-viral video urging his son to keep calm while driving through a wildfire in Montana.

Charles's son, Justin, was behind the wheel in a rental car two weeks ago on a hiking trip when they got caught up in a sudden wildfire. They captured their escape on cell phone video--you can watch above--and Charles spoke to WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Kendall Buhl about the experience.

"It was like we were going through this tunnel," he said. "It was like, the glow of the fire, the fire on both sides and up over the top of us."

Their path was eventually blocked by a flaming tree across the road. But with all the heat, flame, and fear, Justin drove out of danger--in reverse.

"He did an amazing job of going backwards," Charles said. "I can't believe how fast he went, how steady he was."

The Biltons made it to a lake, where they were picked up by two park employees in a boat. Their rental car was burnt to a crisp, but the father and son were unharmed--and feeling very lucky to be able to tell their amazing tale.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Kendall Buhl (@KBuhlWBZ) reports


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