Last Monday, a car fire occurred in a Campus View parking lot located on 42nd Ave. There is no indication of foul play, and it is believed the fire was caused by an issue with the vehicle’s engine.

A plume of smoke from the fire filled the parking lot and could be seen down the street. During the fire, many students posted to social media, primarily the anonymous chat platform YikYak, sharing photographs, videos and comments regarding what had happened. 

The Georgetown Township Fire Department was able to contain the fire from spreading, although the student’s vehicle was entirely destroyed. No one was inside the car, and no pedestrians were harmed.

According to Georgetown Fire Department Chief Matt DeWitt, two fire trucks were sent to Campus View, the first to put out the fire, and the second to assist in gaining access to the vehicle’s interior. The second fire truck arrived at the scene around 12:15 p.m. 

“The fire was contained to the engine compartment and a portion of the dashboard, however, the vehicle is considered a total loss,” DeWitt said. 

Residents of Campus View commented on what they saw.

“I know it had been burning for quite some time, at least half an hour,” said Grand Valley State University student Delaney Novach. “The entire front body of the car was melted down until you could see under the hood.” 

GVSU Assistant Director of Public Safety and Captain Leah Heaton provided some tips on how to prevent car fires from happening.

Heaton recommends performing routine maintenance on vehicles to inspect for hazards, avoiding parking over dry grass or leaves, which can easily ignite, and to always carry a fire extinguisher within the vehicle. If driving a vehicle that catches fire, Heaton recommends pulling over, shutting off the engine and exiting immediately. If a car fire is occurring, Heaton advised staying at least 100 feet away and calling 911 as soon as safely possible.