North Reading Work Van Fire Causes Extensive Damage
NORTH READING, Mass. — At least six vehicles sustained damage Thursday morning when a work van caught fire in a parking lot in North Reading, Massachusetts. One worker was injured while attempting to extinguish the blaze.
The fire broke out around 10:50 a.m. in a parking lot located at 300 Riverpark Drive, part of an industrial park.
A Ram work van belonging to FlyLock Security, a Kia van, a Mazda hatchback, a Volkswagen hatchback, a Tesla sedan, and a Volvo SUV all showed visible damage. From the scene, the damage appeared extensive.
“The wind really allowed it to spread to numerous other vehicles quickly,” said North Reading Deputy Chief Barry Galvin.
Galvin praised the quick work of firefighters, particularly noting their efforts to protect the Tesla.
“They did a really good job of knocking that down before the fire got into the battery compartment of the electric vehicle,” he stated.
FlyLock Security indicated that the fire originated in the engine of their van. The company released a statement saying, “The employees had just pulled into the parking spot when the van unexpectedly began to emit smoke.” The statement continued, “Despite their immediate efforts to extinguish the engine fire, they were unable to do so.”
One employee sustained burns to their hands and was transported to an emergency room. A second individual also received injuries and was taken to a hospital.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. The security company noted that its 2021 Ram ProMaster was in “good condition and fairly new, with regular maintenance performed to ensure it was safe and reliable.”
