Vehicle fire under investigation

The Green River Fire Department responded to an unoccupied vehicle on fire near Wild Horse Canyon Monday evening.

The department was called to the scene at about 4:30 p.m., according to Assistant Fire Chief Mike Liberty. The department responded with one firetruck, manned with four firefighters. Liberty also responded to the scene in a command vehicle. An additional 12 firefighters responded at the fire station for potential backup as well. The city fire crew left the scene at about 6:20 p.m.

The Sweetwater County Fire Department responded to the scene shortly after Green River firefighters arrived. County Fire Warden Mike Bournazian said the fire took place on county land, which resulted in their response. Bournazian said the vehicle was unoccupied at the time of the fire and no injuries resulted from the blaze.

Bournazian said the fire investigation was turned over to the Sweetwater County Sheriff's Office. John Grossnickle, sergeant over the patrol division at the sheriff's office, said the fire looked suspicious.

The circumstances surrounding the fire prompted them to contact an arson investigator from the Rock Springs Police Department. Grossnickle said the fire is still under investigation.

While the fire was limited to the vehicle itself, the possibility for a larger fire existed. No wind was present during the fire Monday, but the fire could have quickly spread from a breeze, if one was present. Bournazian said some people have a false sense of security regarding fire danger because of the coming season change, but the fire danger is still high.

"We're still in fire season," Bournazian said.