A 2005 Ford F250 truck caught fire on Lee Highway at Ooltewah on Friday afternoon and the blaze ruined the vehicle.
L.D. Housley of Apison said he had owned the vehicle just two months.
He said he had gotten off the interstate when it started smoking.
He stopped in front of Steve Ray's Neighborhood Chevron and tried to put it out with a fire extinguisher.
But he Tri Community Volunteer Fire Department had to be called as the flames leaped up.
The incident happened about 1:30 p.m.