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Cars Burns in St. Mark’s Medical Center Parking Lot
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La Grange Fire Chief Frank Menefee and Asst. Chief Todd Johnson attack the flames with a stream of water. Photo by Andy Behlen
A Jeep Compass caught on fire while parked in front of the St. Mark’s Medical Office building next to the hospital Wednesday morning.
La Grange Volunteer Fire Department got the call around 11:10 a.m. The Jeep belonged to a patient who was inside the clinic when the vehicle burst into flames. The owner said he did not notice any problems when he parked the Jeep and turned off the engine. The fire appeared to have originated in the engine compartment. Healthcare workers and patients rushed out of the clinic to move their vehicles away from the inferno. The vehicle’s magnesium dash threw white-hot sparks in all directions as the Jeep burned.
The owner said he had several pistol magazine loaded with ammunition inside the glove box. They could be heard popping in the fire. The owner also had an amplifier for a bass guitar in the back seat. It was destroyed.
La Grange firefighters quickly extinguished the flames.