Everyone likes their public servants to like their jobs, but in the town of Speyer, one young fireman in training took his enthusiasm a little too far.

Because he apparently felt he didn't get enough opportunities to extinguish fires, he decided to set a few of his own. His chosen material for burning: cars.

Local police said the man has confessed to burning 18 vehicles in the towns of Speyer and Otterstadt, not because he has anything against cars, but because he "felt a real kick" when he was able to douse the flames he'd caused.

The damage from the car-burning spree is estimated at 200,000 euros ($235,000).

No word yet about his future on the fire-fighting force.