Douglas County Fire District No. 2 firefighters responded to dump truck on fire at the Douglas County Parks Department on Saturday Evening. The fire was reported to firefighters working the Fire District No. 2 station in Winchester. The station is located next door to the parks department and firefighters arrived on scene within seconds of responding to the call.
Firefighters found a 10 yard dump truck with the engine compartment and cab fully involved in flames upon arrival. The dump truck was parked outside in the parking lot and was close to a building. Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire before it could spread to the building or other material next to the truck.
The cause of the fire appears to be related to the block heater used to keep the engine warm during cold weather. Two fire investigators with the Douglas County Fire District No. 2 Fire Investigation Team worked late into the evening determining the cause of the fire.
The fire destroyed the engine compartment and the cab of the 1994 International dump truck. The truck had an estimated value between $15,000-$20,000.
Fire officials recommend that vehicles equipped with block heaters be inspected periodically to make sure that the wiring is in good condition. It is common for the block heater wire to move back and forth against the frame of the vehicle