Fire engulfs car, shipping container
Thick, black smoke billows from the burning shipping container at the old dumpsite in Puerto Rico yesterday at noon. A worker cutting the container using an acetylene torch triggered the fire, according to arson investigators. (DEREK GERSONDE)
A car caught fire in front of Mount Carmel School in Chalan Kanoa while another fire broke out at a shipping container at the old dumpsite in Puerto Rico yesterday.
No one was reported injured in the two incidents, according to Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services spokesman Derek Gersonde.
DFEMS received a call about a vehicle on fire in front of Mount Carmel at 11:22am.
Gersonde said firefighters and arson investigators from Susupe Fire Station responded and placed the blaze under control at 11:33am.
Gersonde said arson investigators determined that mechanical failure caused the fire.
“The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Updates will be released when they are available,” he said.
No information was provided as to the owner of the car.
In the Puerto Rico fire, Gersonde said DFEMS received a call about a shipping container that was on fire at 12:15pm.
Gersonde said firefighters and arson investigators from Garapan and Susupe fire stations responded and place the fire under control at 12:23pm.
Arson investigators determined that the fire broke out after a worker was cutting the container using an acetylene torch.
The heat transferred from the container and ignited the combustible insulation of the container.
“The cause of the fire is accidental, therefore this case is closed by DFEMS,” Gersonde said.
Flammable insulation? I thought that under the building code in the NMI any insulation was suppose to fire retardant. It is required in Guam and elsewhere.
Bets are this insulation is from China.
This may be a big problem with these “steel container Houses”.that are on display. If the insulation used in these building are flammable this certainly could be a death trap especially with the electrical wiring within the insulation.
This brings up another question as to if the wiring is also installed according to code?
Too bad there was no anybody in DPW that has the knowledge to actually look at these areas among the rest of that and any new “Model Home” construction.
I am not against these types of “buildings” but nthey have to be built to be safe and to code.
NOT China style”