A Virginia Beach resident was in the middle of repairing an SUV outside a home in the 2200 block of Salem Road on Thursday when the vehicle suddenly caught fire, scorching a nearby detached garage before crews could get it under control. No one was hurt, and no one had to leave home because of the damage.
Virginia Beach Fire Department, EMS crews and the Virginia Beach Police Department were all dispatched to reports of the fire around 12:10 p.m., according to WAVY.com. When fire crews arrived, they found the SUV parked in front of a detached garage, with flames already engulfing the vehicle.
Crews Knock Down Flames in Under 20 Minutes
Firefighters moved quickly, and the fire was declared out by 12:27 p.m., roughly 17 minutes after the initial dispatch, the station's report notes. The blaze left moderate exterior damage on the detached garage, but crews managed to keep it from burning into the structure's framing or reaching the main residence.
There were no injuries reported among civilians, firefighters or pets, and no residents were displaced from the home, per the same account. Given how close the SUV was parked to the garage when it ignited, that outcome could easily have gone differently.
Investigators Trace the Fire Back to Repair Work
An investigation into the incident determined that the fire started in the SUV itself while the resident was actively working on the vehicle, the report states. Fire officials did not specify what repair was underway or what exactly sparked the flames.
In the wake of the fire, the Virginia Beach Fire Department issued a reminder that vehicle maintenance involving fuel, electrical systems or other potential ignition sources can create serious fire hazards. Officials urged anyone working on a car to take proper safety precautions and never ignore warning signs like overheating, leaking fluids or electrical problems.
Similar Incidents Underscore the Risk
Vehicle fires sparked during repairs or while parked near structures are not unique to Virginia Beach. A car fire in Washington Township, New Jersey, spread to a garage and portions of a home, leaving the vehicle destroyed and the residence damaged, according to WRNJ Radio. Firefighters in South Sioux City, Iowa, also responded to a car fire inside a detached garage in August, as reported by KTIV.
Thursday's fire in Virginia Beach ended without the worst-case outcome seen in some of those other cases, thanks to the quick response from VBFD crews. For now, the resident is left cleaning up a damaged garage and a destroyed SUV, with fire officials hoping the incident serves as a cautionary tale for anyone planning to pop the hood on their own vehicle.
