By Michelle Crean

A mother and her two young children are this week recovering after jumping to safety when their car burst into flames while heading towards Killarney.

AFTER: The car after Emergency Services brought the flames under control.

Elaine O'Connor and her sons, Joshua, who was celebrating his eight birthday when the frightening incident occurred, and Lee (7) watched on terrified and shocked at the side of the road on the Killarney side of Farranfore as the Hyundai i40 they had been travelling in moments before became engulfed in flames.

Two fire appliances - one from Castleisland and the other from Killarney - and Gardai rushed to the scene after being called out on Thursday evening last.

It was quickly brought under control by the fire personnel while a kind nurse and two off duty Gardai comforted the family.

"It literally happened so quick, thank God we came out of it," Elaine, who is this week still getting over the shock, told the Killarney Advertiser.

"It was terrifying."

Elaine, who is living in Castleisland, explained how she was travelling up the hill on the way to her home place in Kilcummin.

"I was going towards Killarney, climbing up the hill when the battery light came on. It just died and smoke came out. The smoke got very heavy very fast and the fire just started. My boys were in the back and we jumped out. I saw plastic dripping on the road. A nurse stopped and helped and she rang the fire brigade. Two off duty Gardai came to help and the nurse looked after the boys while I spoke to them. Then another garda came and they helped arrange to have the car taken away. It was all very traumatic, they [the boys] got a really bad fright but we got out and everyone is ok thank God."

She added that she's so grateful for the support of the Emergency Services.

"I just want to thank everyone that was involved."