Up in smoke: car fire interrupts Orland Flea Market

The families, merchants, and organizers of the 6th Street Flea Market in Orland got a brief scare Saturday afternoon as a minivan parked across the street from the busy market burst into flames for unknown reasons.

“We were (at the Market) across the street and we looked up and there was all black smoke all over and big red and blue flames shooting out the car,” said one Orland youth eyewitness.

Assistant Fire Chief Jerry Kraemer said the vehicle’s owner told authorities he left “smoldering charcoal briquettes in the back of his van” while attending the flea market. He said the exact cause of the fire was not known Saturday afternoon.

The call came at 12:56 p.m., firefighters were on scene by 12:57 p.m., and the blaze was under control by 1:00 p.m., according to the Corning dispatch center.

The van, a 1990s model Ford Aerostar, burned for about 15 minutes before firefighters completely extinguished the flames, Kraemer said. All damage was limited to the minivan. No one was injured.

When the emergency call came, Orland City firefighters were only two blocks away from the market responding to a two-car collision on Yolo Street in which all parties involved refused medical attention, Kraemer said.

Fabiolo Marin of Corning was also attending the market and said her car, which was parked next to the burning van, was not damaged except for some minor smoke and ash, which covered her Nissan Altima with a thin layer of black plastic soot.

“I was buying some fruit with my kids and thought it was my car at first,” Marin said. “I’m glad (the Orland Fire Department) were able to put it out so quickly.”

The vehicle’s owner politely refused comment.

“It’s not suspicious at this point and the investigation continues,” Kramer said.

Contact Robert Parsons at 458-2121 or rparsons@tcnpress.com. Contact Andrew Husband at 934-6800 or ahusband@tcnpress.com.