Fire destroyed an RV after an effort to jump start its engine at an East Cypress Avenue gas station Thursday afternoon.
Mike Sawyer, a Redding Fire Department battalion chief, said crews were able to put the fire out within 10 minutes of arriving at the Comets gas station.
While emergency scanner traffic suggested the fire might have been set intentionally, Sawyer said that was not the case.
Some individuals “were attempting to jump start the vehicle when the fire occurred. So, it was not nefarious, no arson. I’m not sure where that report came from,” Sawyer said, calling it a mechanical malfunction.
The RV was parked on the west side of the gas station on the corner of East Cypress and Bechelli Lane when it caught on fire.
Black smoke from the fire could be seen from downtown.
Sawyer said the fire damaged a portion of the gas station building and torched a communication line that was above the RV. The flames also damaged a portion of the asphalt where the RV was parked, he said.
There was one minor injury. “One bystander stated he had minor burns but he didn’t want to be seen or treated” by a doctor, Sawyer said.
David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly “Buzz on the Street” column. He’s part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other North State stories. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: RV parked at Redding gas station catches fire after attempt to jump start its engine
Reporting by David Benda, Redding Record Searchlight / Redding Record Searchlight
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