Fire Totals Two Vehicles, Damages Another In Auto Repair Parking Lot
Madison, WI
A fire that began in the engine compartment of an idling van went on to total another vehicle and damage a third parked nearby.
A witness reported seeing white smoke coming from the front hood of a GMC Explorer van, which was parked bumper to bumper against a Ford F-150 pickup truck between two auto repair shops on Stewart Street. Moments later, the same witness reports the smoke “went black,” and soon flames were coming from the engine compartment of the GMC van. Employees of one of the repair shops attempted to put out the fire with a total of four fire extinguishers but their efforts were not successful. The individuals who were inside the van when the smoke appeared got out just in time and were not injured by the fire.
When Ladder Co. 6 arrived on scene, both vehicles were on fire with flames now extended into the passenger compartment of the van. The crew fought the the fire with approximately 500-700 gallons of water from the ladder truck’s front bumper line.
In addition to totaling the van and the pickup truck, the heat from the fire damaged the front passenger side of another van parked nearby. The exact cause of the fire is not determined; however, the drivers report the van had just been taken to the repair shop to be seen for unknown mechanical problems.