Van destroyed in early morning Monroe fire

Published 3:16 pm Friday, April 25, 2008

MONROE — Neighbors woke to small explosions after a work van caught fire Friday morning.

No one was hurt but it took fire crews a long time to douse the van’s engine, Sultan Fire Chief Merlin Halverson said.

The fire was reported about 12:40 a.m. at a house in the 28200 block of 106th Place SE. A work van had caught fire and its magnesium engine block exploded like fireworks, shooting hot debris into the air, Halverson said.

Crews protected the house and extinguished the blaze.

The van was gutted. Damage was estimated at $5,000.

Investigators believe the fire may have been caused by electrical problem in the vehicle.