1 person injured after car fire in North Philadelphia

NORTH PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Police are investigating a suspicious car fire that happened early Thursday morning in North Philadelphia.

One person inside the car was burned and was taken to the hospital.

ATF investigators spent the morning with police K-9's, inspecting the fire scene and burned out car.

Eyewitnesses say the burning car exploded several times, blowing out nearby windows and startling residents awake.

"It was so loud when I first heard it I fell to the floor, because your natural reaction is go for cover. Your next reaction is get out of the house," said Yolanda McNair.

"It wasn't like a regular explosion, I wasn't going to do anything until a man was in front of my window, saying 'Help me I'm burning! My skin is burning!'" another witness told Action News. "He said, 'I need help.'"

Eyewitnesses say the burn victim claimed he was targeted, and someone threw an explosive device at his car. But the ATF tells Action News this is not an explosives investigation, but rather a fire investigation.

How the fire started is unclear. The victim was being treated at Temple Hospital.