Emergency crews responded to a vehicle fire in a van at the Lowes parking lot last evening. The occupant escaped but was burned on his face, hands, and part of his body. The occupant was transported to the hospital for treatment.
It was determined that the fire originated just behind the front passenger seat. A propane heater and a fire-damaged propane cylinder were discovered within the area the fire originated. The cause of the fire appeared to be a propane heater (that was in operation) igniting a mixture of air and propane that was leaking from a small propane cylinder. The fire then spread to nearby fuels including a bed and a plastic garbage can.
The occupant had been cooking just before the fire. He said the propane cylinder began leaking after he disconnected it from the portable stove, and he started to become concerned about a fire. He said he barely had enough time to try to get some separation from the heater before a fire erupted. After opening a rear door to escape, the occupant said the fire grew quickly and he felt lucky to be alive.