EUGENE, Ore. — Crews with Eugene Springfield Fire responded to a vehicle fire early Thursday morning on West 11th Avenue that was complicated by a fuel leak and the risk of an explosion.
Battalion Chief Wayne Morris said firefighters arrived to find a vehicle fully engulfed in flames, with gasoline leaking from the car and continuing to ignite.
“Crews were hampered by a running fuel leak, so we had gasoline leaking from the car and it was igniting and running away from the car,” Morris said. “We ended up spending a lot of water putting the fire out, but eventually they were able to extinguish it.”
Morris said the leaking fuel created additional hazards for firefighters, including the possibility that gasoline vapors could ignite inside the vehicle or that the fuel tank could rupture, potentially causing an explosion.
Despite the challenges, crews were able to quickly deploy a hose line and bring the fire under control.
“They were able to deploy a hose line pretty quickly and get the fire in check fairly fast, or at least hold it until they could get closer and knock it all the way down,” Morris said.
A fire marshal is investigating the cause of the fire. Morris said it appeared the incident may have involved someone sleeping inside the vehicle and using a heating device to stay warm during the cold weather.
Firefighters were able to contact the vehicle’s owner, who was being interviewed by police. No further details were immediately available.
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