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VIDEO: Quick thinking averts bigger disaster after parked vehicle bursts into flames in downtown Castlegar

The parked SUV was unoccupied at the time
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Castlegar Fire Department puts out vehicle fire June 7. Photo: Betsy Kline

The Castlegar Fire Department responded to a dramatic vehicle fire on 2nd Street in downtown Castlegar Monday afternoon.

According to the vehicle’s owner, the SUV was parked and not running when it broke out into flames. The vehicle then began to roll forward and the owner and a neighbour were able to get some rocks under the tires to stop its progression, potentially diverting a much larger disaster.

Fire crews arrived within a few minutes of the 9-1-1 call and began to extinguish the fire using a bumper-mounted deck turret on the front of the fire truck. Once the flames began to subside, firefighters exited the truck and extinguished the fire using hand-line hoses.

No one was injured in the incident.

Fire Chief Sam Lattanzio says the fire started in the engine compartment and was most likely caused by an electrical malfunction.

Rescue 1 and Engine 1 responded to the scene along with 10 firefighters.



betsy.kline@castlegarnews.com

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Betsy Kline

About the Author: Betsy Kline

After spending several years as a freelance writer for the Castlegar News, Betsy joined the editorial staff as a reporter in March of 2015. In 2020, she moved into the editor's position.
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