Sweet Home Police Department is investigating a fire that destroyed a pickup truck and damaged Seamingly Creative early Monday morning.
Police and fire received a report of the fire at 1:35 a.m. at 1245 Main St., Seamingly Creative.
Initially fire was visible underneath the engine compartment, of the 1987 Ford Ranger, with smoke filling the cab. The fire grew quickly, with the starter motor somehow engaging sporadically; and the vehicle was engulfed as police officers arrived on the scene.
A police officer attempted to put the fire out with a fire extinguisher, but it was ineffective. His attempt was followed by the sound of an explosion.
Firefighters soon arrived and extinguished the fire.
The vehicle was towed as a hazard.
Bystanders talked about a couple of males fleeing the scene of the incident after pulling up to the curb. The vehicle may have been burning as it pulled up to the curb.
Police took a report for a hit and run for property damage caused to Seamingly Creative.
“The numbers on the door, just melted and gone,” said owner Lerena Ruby. The paint around the door was bubbling, and the lower part of her awning had melted, leaving individual panels hanging down over the sidewalk.
The glass in the pickup had exploded, Ruby said. She tried to clean it up, but it was difficult. The city helped out there.
“They must have spent a couple of hours down here cleaning that,” Ruby said. “I really appreciate Public Works so much because that was a mess.”
The fire damage was relatively minor, she said. “We were so lucky. It didn’t even smell like smoke inside.”
The vehicle was destroyed in the fire, said Police Chief Jeff Lynn. Police contacted the registered owner of the vehicle, but the owner had recently sold it. Police officers are now looking for the most recent person who is responsible for the vehicle.
Anyone with information should contact the Police Department at (541) 367-5181.