ST. GEORGE — A student’s pickup truck was destroyed and another vehicle damaged in a fire Friday afternoon at Snow Canyon High School.
St. George Fire Department units responded about 3 p.m. to the parking lot at the school to find a Ford F-150 pickup on fire, St. George Fire Chief Robert Stoker said.
The fire, which was apparently electrical in nature, was in danger of spreading to a Cadillac parked next to it.
“The wiring (that caused the fire) did go to an auxiliary sound system installed in the vehicle,” Stoker said. “They tried to put it out themselves, caught the back seat on fire, the upholstery and seat cushions, and within just a couple minutes the interior of the vehicle was involved.”
When firefighters arrived they found the truck fully involved in flames, Stoker said.
The driver sustained a burn to his fingers when he tried to pull the wires loose, the fire chief said, but the burn was minor and was treated at the scene.
“We do see numerous fires caused by auxiliary sound systems in vehicles,” Stoker cautioned. “It doesn’t seem to be the case with this one, but a lot of times too small of wiring is used, a lot of times no in-line fuses are used.”
“If there is a problem the fuse will blow and shut the power off to the sound system,” Stoker said.
The pickup truck was totaled, while the Cadillac sustained damage to the paint.
This report is based on preliminary information provided by law enforcement or other emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.
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