Vernon Fire and rescue Services
(CHARLOTTE HELSTON / iNFOnews.ca)
February 24, 2016 - 11:25 AM
VERNON - A good samaritan may have helped keep a Vernon vehicle fire at bay, but an emergency official insists it’s still best to wait for the fire department.
Deputy fire chief Jack Blair says crews were called out to 24 Avenue shortly after midnight on Tuesday for a report of a Dodge Caravan on fire. The unoccupied vehicle was parked in front of some houses.
By the time firefighters arrived on scene, a resident of the area had already attacked the fire with a hose.
“It’s not advisable,” Blair says of members of the public tackling fires on their own. “A lot of toxins come off of car fires. Good samaritans are trying to prevent further damage, but (should) avoid breathing those fumes. We don’t recommend it, but we can’t control everything.”
Despite the efforts of the resident, the front end of the vehicle was engulfed in flames when the fire department arrived, and Blair says the driver’s seat and front passenger seat are badly damaged.
At this point, officials aren’t sure what caused the fire, or if it’s considered suspicious. Police and the fire department continue to investigate.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infonews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2016