Worland fire department rules car fire accidental
WORLAND (WNE) — The cause of the car fire that resulted in the death of a Worland resident last month has been ruled accidental.
Worland Fire Chief Chris Kocher announced Friday that the investigation by the Worland Fire Department was completed and has “been ruled as an accidental fire.”
He said the investigation showed the driver of the 2006 red Jeep Liberty, Bruce “Gary” Garretson, “became high centered and continued to try to get unstuck by revving the engine and spinning the tires. The spinning of the tires with friction created by contact with the ground caused the tire to overheat allowing the driver’s side rear tire to catch fire. That, in conjunction with the continuity of the dry vegetation and the resulting flames from the tire in close proximity to the plastic gas tank, allowed for flames to melt the plastic tank, causing gasoline to leak.
“The flame ignited the gasoline, which compounded the melting of the gas tank, which released the entire contents of the gasoline. The ignited gasoline ran downhill in the tire rut along the driver’s side of the vehicle.”
The incident occurred about two miles out on 15 Mile Road on March 20. Garretson passed away on March 25 at the University of Colorado Hospital.
This story was published on April 4, 2024.