Volvo catches fire due to heat

By: Jeffrey Sawyer

Posted: 5/30/08

Saturday, May 17, a Volvo caught fire in parking Lot F, spreading to three nearby vehicles. Light explosions were heard and the spectators of a high school track event witnessed smoke from the fire.

The Polk Country Fire Department received a call around 4 p.m. According to Public Safety Director Jay Carey it only took them about three to four minutes to respond. Long enough for explosions to be heard and smoke to rise above the trees and buildings.

According to Polk County Fire Chief Jason Cane, the fire was started by one vehicle, a Volvo on the far west end of the parking lot. The fire then spread to vehicles on either side of the Volvo and melted the plastic bumper of a fourth vehicle. The Volvo was the only car that burned entirely.

The incident happened on a lively Saturday afternoon. On campus there were three major events taking place. The high school track meet, WOUStock and the 23rd birthday celebration of Western's Jensen Arctic Museum were all taking place. No one was injured by the incident.

"There was a lot of smoke and the kids were being drawn to something interesting," said Carey.

"People were flocking like flies to light," said Cane. "It was a good sideshow for an otherwise mundane track meet."

In the crowd of onlookers, rumors of arson spread almost immediately.

"I heard that someone set fire to a Volvo's tire, and it spread to another car next to it," said student Emily Goodman through email.

The exact cause for the fire has not yet been determined, but according to Cane it was not arson.

"The Volvo was parked on the curb and the front of the motor had bottomed out," said Cane. "This made it possible for something to get wedged in the fan and stop the fan from running. The fan typically runs 10-15 minutes even after the key is taken out of the ignition. With the fan not running and being as hot as it was, enough heat could have been created to cause the fire."

When asked about the explosion sounds, Cane said that it possibly could have come from the tires or shock absorbers in the bumpers.

"The gas tanks in cars do not explode like they do in movies and on TV," said Cane.•