1,000 Gallons of Water Used to Extinguish Van Fire

The Westport Fire and Police Departments responded to a reported van on fire at the intersection of Post Road West and Kings Highway South around 6 p.m. Friday in Westport.

Upon arrival, police reported that the van was "fully involved" in fire and they shut the road down to traffic. The driver of the van was able to save only a few items from the interior of the van before being driven back by heat from the fire that he reported started in the rear engine compartment, according to a news release sent by Westport Fire Department Shift Commander William Dingee.

Engine 4 from the Saugatuck Station arrived on scene to attack the fire. Engine 2 from Fire Headquarters arrived to assist as Engine 4 was running out of water. They used water from their tank to continue to extinguish the van and it's contents.  A total of 1,000 gallons of water was used to extinguish this difficult fire.  The Volkswagen "micro bus" of early 1970's-era was a total loss as was the majority of the contents, according to Dingee.

Crews remained on scene to overhaul any remaining fire and await the removal of the van by a flatbed wrecker. The last fire department unit cleared at 7: 18 p.m.