Van burns behind Orland Napa

By Larry Judkins

Glenn County Observer

It was sort of two fires in one, according to Orland Fire Chief Justin Chaney.

Shortly before 11:30 Monday morning, Orland firefighters responded to a report of a vehicle fire “on Walker Street” at the Napa Auto Parts store.

The fire was actually in the lot behind Napa and firefighters could reach it only from Fourth Street.

According to Chief Chaney, the fire began when a worker accidentally opened a valve on an acetylene tank. When the worker attempted to close the valve, a spark was produced and the tank caught fire.

The worker reportedly headed for safety and the fire department was called. But the fire got worse before it was extinguished.

The fire from the acetylene tank burned through the floor of the delivery van and through the van’s fuel tank directly below. The van’s fuel, of course, also caught fire.

Firefighters were able to pull the acetylene tank from the rear of the delivery van and drag it to the edge of Fourth Street, spraying it with water as they went. They then turned their full attention to the van fire.

A river of burning fuel almost reached all the way from the van to Fourth Street before firefighters put it out. The van itself was a complete loss.

Although the van was very close to the rear of the Napa building, it appeared that the building did not sustain any damage.