Cook County Law Enforcement received a report of a large van on fire at a Tom Lake residence at 7:05 a.m. on Monday, April 4. The family was able to almost completely extinguish the fire, but the vehicle’s engine and cab were completely destroyed.
Jay and Laura LaFavor were getting ready to start their day. Jay LaFavor started the 2006 Dodge Sprinter he uses in his business, Jay’s Heating, to let it warm up. A few minutes later, Laura LaFavor noticed smoke coming from under the hood. Jay LaFavor attempted to open the hood to use a fire extinguisher, but the cable to release the hood had apparently melted. He could only open the hood about two inches. He used the fire extinguisher as well as he could on the engine compartment until the windshield shattered.
The LaFavors quickly shoveled snow in the cab of the vehicle and around the tires.
The Hovland Fire Department and First Responders were paged and Colvill Fire Department was paged for mutual aid, as well as the Cook County Ambulance. Snow-covered roads slowed the response, but Hovland Fire was on scene with a fire engine at the Tom Lake home by 8:02 a.m.
Another Hovland fire crew stood by with a tanker at a nearby gravel pit. Colvill Fire stood by at the Hovland Fire Hall.
Hovland Assistant Fire Chief Terry Spieker said when the fire department arrived they found the engine smoldering. He said, “They basically had the fire put out by the time we got there.”
Hovland Fire was able to pry open the hood to ensure that the fire was completely out, but he said the fire had spread inside to the cab area and was a total loss. All responders were clear of the scene by 9:30 a.m. Spieker said the cause of the fire is hard to determine because of the fire damage. An insurance investigation is pending.
No one was seriously injured in the fire, although Jay LaFavor burned his fingertips trying to open the hood. Fortunately many of his tools were in the back of the van and were okay, but the engine, cab, and product storage area were completely destroyed. LaFavor said he lost all of the electrical and heating products that were in the van.
Jay LaFavor said he is glad no one was hurt and that the vehicle didn’t cause damage to the nearby greenhouse. He said, “It was just a vehicle.”
Laura LaFavor also said she was thankful that no one was hurt, but added the van was more than a vehicle, it was Jay’s office, warehouse and shop.
The LaFavors expressed appreciation to the Hovland and Colvill Fire Departments for their response and for making sure the fire was completely out. Jay LaFavor said, “We want to say a special thanks to them.”
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