Today’s public service announcement: don’t clean up spilled fuel from the trunk of the car with a vacuum cleaner.
On February 9, 2025 at 9:32 p.m., Polk County Fire Rescue (PCFR) crews were dispatched to a vehicle fire reported on Rosalie Lake Rd. in Lake Wales.
Upon PCFR’s arrival at 9:44 p.m., crews observed heavy flames coming from the vehicle. Crews worked quickly to extinguish the flames.
According to Katelyn Hoverkamp, public information officer for PCFR, “The cause of the fire was determined to be a shop vacuum that was used to vacuum up fuel that was accidentally spilled in the trunk of the vehicle. Using the shop vac to vacuum up fuel caused the vacuum’s electrical motor to catch on fire.”
There were no injuries reported or patients transported from the scene.
The call was closed at 10:49 p.m.
