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Wind-Fanned SUV Fire at Jordan's Furniture Lot in Reading Damages Three Vehicles, No Injuries
A small SUV caught fire in the Jordan's Furniture parking lot in Reading on Sunday afternoon, with wind spreading flames that left two vehicles with major damage and a third with minor damage. Fire officials said no one was hurt and have not yet determined the cause.
READING, Mass. â A small SUV was fully engulfed in flames in the parking lot of the Jordan's Furniture store on Sunday afternoon, and gusty conditions helped the fire spread to nearby vehicles before crews could knock it down, according to the Reading Fire Department.
The fire was reported at about 4 p.m. When firefighters arrived, they found the SUV completely ablaze, with flames pushing outward because of the wind, officials said.
By the time the fire was out, two vehicles had sustained major damage and a third had minor damage, the department said. No injuries were reported.
Fire officials have not said what they believe caused the blaze, and the investigation into the origin of the fire is ongoing.
The incident unfolded in a busy commercial corridor, where a fire in a crowded store lot can quickly threaten shoppers' vehicles and put bystanders at risk. Officials did not say how close the flames came to the furniture store building itself.
Sunday's fire adds to a string of vehicle and structure fires across the region in recent days, including a lightning-sparked house fire in Abington and a fatal basement fire in Windsor, Vermont. Local fire officials continue to urge residents to report smoke or flames immediately and to keep clear of burning vehicles, which can release toxic smoke and explode.