Vehicle fire at Columbia Moto Mart

Pictured is the scene of Thursday’s vehicle fire at Moto Mart in Columbia.

The Columbia Fire Department responded shortly before 11:30 a.m. Thursday to a vehicle fire at the Moto Mart gas station on Southwoods Drive off Route 3.

Flames were seen shooting from a white minivan parked next to one of the gas pumps upon firefighter arrival. Fortunately, the flames were extinguished within a short amount of time before spreading to the nearby gas pump.

No injuries were reported in the blaze.

A local woman pulled her Ford minivan into the gas station and smelled something burning, Columbia Assistant Fire Chief Jim Broshears said.

“All of the sudden, smoke started coming out of it,” he said. “The whole engine compartment was on fire when we got there.”

Broshears praised the quick thinking of a Moto Mart clerk inside the gas station who hit a switch that shuts down all of the gas pumps.

Moto Mart also evacuated the area during the incident, and Columbia police assisted with blocking off entrances to the gas station during the incident.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Republic-Times

The Republic-Times has been Monroe County's hometown newspaper since 1890. Serving Columbia, Waterloo, Valmeyer, Hecker and every town in between, we strive to provide the news that matters most to you in the timeliest manner possible. For more information on subscribing to the Republic-Times, call 939-3814 or visit the "Subscribe" page on this website.
HTC web
MonroeCountyElectric300X15012_19