By Austin Andre
Last Thursday, Jan. 5, at approximately 5 p.m. the Jerseyville Fire Department (JFD) was alerted to a raging vehicle fire situated in the Walmart parking lot near the lawn and garden center.
The front-end of the Pontiac Grand Am was consumed by flames and smoke when the JFD arrived to extinguish the fire, according to Chief Keith Norman.
“It was definitely in the engine compartment,” said Norman.
After the blaze was put out, and upon examining the smoldering wreckage of the car, the JFD remains puzzled as to the cause of the incident.
“As far as the actual cause,” said Norman, “we have not determined that as of yet.”
There was no damage caused to any other surrounding structures or vehicles, nor were there any reported injuries. The driver was unharmed, according to Norman, and acted quickly when he suspected something was afoot with his vehicle.
“It is my understanding that he smelled something and the car began to act a bit erratically,” said Norman. “The driver was able to get it stopped away from any other vehicles and actually did a good job of putting it in a place where it wouldn’t be at risk of damaging other vehicles.”
No other details have been released about the incident, however, the JFD alongside other officials are investigating the cause of the fire.
Carissa Sitki/
Jersey County Journal
Last Thursday, Jan. 5, at approximately 5 p.m. the Jerseyville Fire Department (JFD) was alerted to a raging vehicle fire situated in the Walmart parking lot near the lawn and garden center.
Carissa Sitki/Jersey County Journal
The Jerseyville Fire Department works to extinguish a blaze in the engine compartment of a Pontiac Grand Am, last Thursday, in the Walmart parking lot.
