Alton, Iowa– A minivan was destroyed in a fire on Wednesday, January 30, 2019, in Alton.
According to Alton Fire Chief Quintin Van Es, about 7:20 a.m., the Alton Fire Department was called to the report of a vehicle fire at 1006 6th Avenue in northwest Alton.
The chief says the fire department saw smoke from the hood as they approached the scene. He says by the time they arrived, the owner had been able to smother the fire a little. He says the fire department popped the hood and applied some dry chemical from fire extinguishers. He says they pulled the hot spots out. According to the chief, with the subzero temperatures, if they had used water, they would have created a bunch of ice.
Van Es says no injuries were reported. He reports that the Orange City/Alton Police Department assisted them by responding to the scene first.
He says the cause is undetermined, but the owner had been trying to start the van using starting fluid. He says it’s not known for sure, but the fire may have bee related. He says maybe a backfire caused the fire. He says it started on the air-intake side where starter fluid would have been applied.
Chief Van Es reports that the 2001 Chrysler minivan was a total loss.
He says the ten firefighters who responded were on scene for about 30 minutes.
