No injuries after car fire in Bristol

BRISTOL — There were no injuries after a vehicle caught fire on Sunday afternoon on Cedar Street. While it did spread due to dry conditions, firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze before it could get out of hand.

Bristol Fire Department received a 911 call at 12:30 p.m. on April 12, about a Dodge Dart on fire on Cedar Street, at the base of Sugar Hill.

Chief Benjamin LaRoche said the vehicle fire was big, and while a cause was unclear, firefighters were able to knock it down with no issue.

“This was a vehicle fire, and it spread to some of the surface fuels in the area, leaves and brush and stuff you find in your yard before spring cleanup,” LaRoche said.

LaRoche said the fire was extinguished, mopped up and foam was applied. It was an efficient process, as crews were back in service by 1:10 p.m.

Unlike last spring where it rained every weekend, it has been a relatively dry season so far. Coming out of the winter, those dry conditions can lead to hazards when it comes to fire.

“We are still quite a ways from green up and just starting to see buds on the trees,” LaRoche said. “Conditions will remain on that fringe edge where surface fuels are exposed.”

LaRoche said this is the time of year when people call the department to obtain fire permits, but the conditions can change quickly, and he is urging the public to use caution when burning.

“The sunshine and the winds of the day turn surface fuels into dry kindling,” LaRoche said. “Continue to use caution, and wait for rain or for the green up period to start.”