GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo. -- A classic car ignited a fire that nearly destroyed a Greenwood Village home.

The fire ignited Friday evening as the homeowner was working on his vintage Corvette. As he was backing the car out, it backfired, and the engine compartment caught fire.

The man tried to push the car out of the garage but was only able to get it part way out before the flames spread to the garage and then the house.

Strong winds fanned the flames to the sides of the garage, quickly spreading the fire to the home.

"The wind will drive the fire right into the interior of the house," Interim EMS Bureau Chief Robert Smith said. "It made a perfect chimney for the fire to move and gain a lot of strength."

The winds also made it difficult for firefighters battling the fire.

"The crews attacked the fire aggressively, but the weather, the amount of fuel and the home's construction worked against them," Smith said.

After 22 minutes crews were withdrawn from inside the home and the fire was fought "defensively" from the outside.

All four residents and their pets were able to safely escape the home.

No one was hurt.

A total of eight engines and two ladder trucks, with approximately 40 firefighters were involved in fighting the blaze. Four hours later, crews were still at the home, extinguishing hot spots.