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BOUNTIFUL -- An ambulance caught on fire at a South Davis Metro fire station Monday.
The fire occurred at Fire Station 81, South Davis Metro Fire Department's headquarters. Officers had returned from a call at about 8:15 p.m. and were eating dinner when a car began to honk outside of the station, according to Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Bassett.
Upon moving downstairs, firefighters discovered the engine compartment of an ambulance was on fire. The ambulance was dragged out of the station to prevent damage to the building. The fire was extinguished within 15-20 minutes, Bassett said.
The ambulance is out of service due to the fire. The fire department will use a reserve ambulance until a replacement arrives in about a month.
No firefighters were injured in the blaze, and no damage to the station was reported.
It just shows that this type of thing can happen to anybody, anywhere, at any time.
–Jeff Bassett
"Really, that's what matters -- that all of our people are safe," said Bassett. "These vehicles are costly, but they can be replaced."
The department believes that an electrical harness may have shorted out in the engine, but are awaiting the results of an inspection by the State Fire Marshal. When a fire occurs on fire department property, an outside agency is used instead of local inspectors.
Arson is not a suspected cause, according to Fire Chief Jim Rampton.
"Right now, there is nothing to lead us to believe it was malicious intent," said Rampton.
Once arson is ruled out as a cause, investigators involve multiple elements, including manufacturers, which can slow down the investigation substantially.
"We may never know," said Rampton.
The incident serves as a reminder to the public to remain vigilant in taking precautions to avoid fires, including creating escape plans and checking smoke detector batteries.
"It was definitely unexpected," said Bassett. "It just shows that this type of thing can happen to anybody, anywhere, at any time."
