Van on fire near Park Place and Vanderbilt

I just heard three loud explosions near Park Place and Vanderbilt, followed by sirens, police cars, and fire trucks. I went down and checked it out and spoke to some other onlookers, but not sure what happened. A minivan parked next to the dry cleaners is burned out and smoldering, surrounded by firemen. At first I thought it was an accident, but it looks like the van may have exploded. Anyone know of anything more?

I really hope it is not the arsonist that has been mentioned recently.

Hey...when did this happen? I live across the street and never saw/heard a thing in the night. I just called home and was told it was all quiet there now...

Is NBC working on an expose?

Just read the arsonist thread...clearly the same incident...we must sleep really well because we didn't hear a thing last night!

happened right around 4AM. super loud bang (sounded like gunshot) woke us up, by the time i looked out the fire was huge. Then more explosions - looked like fireworks shooting out of the SUV. Eventually the gas in the gutter caught on fire and sent flames 20' down the side walk past 2-3 other cars....the spectacle was a little jarring.

no wonder it smelled like gasoline when I walked by the corner around 6:30 A.M.

It smelled like gas when I walked by at midnight....

disneyhattan wrote: It smelled like gas when I walked by at midnight....

if correct, this was before said SUV blew up.

Meaning the SUV could have been peacefully leaking gas onto the street until it was rudely interupted by a discarded cigarette butt.

just a thought....

was on my way to work this morning and the smell hit me before I knew what was going on.

snapped a few pics.

http://picasaweb.google.com/113966943099917525096/SUVFireProspectHeights?feat=directlink

So far the arsonist hasn't torched anything except piles of trash and brush. If this is the arsonist, then his activities have just become a lot more dangerous and destructive.

I'm hoping that this was an accidental fire from a fuel leak.

Not necessarily the same person(s) involved, but there have been other cars in past years.

One on Pacific or Dean or Bergen (can't remember).

And a Volvo or two in the Slope. (last year or year before?)

Hate to say it again, but school' isn't even out yet for most.

If past years are any indication, this may just be a taste of what's to come once the long, hot, idle days and nights of Summer kick in.

also a few by greenwood cemetery 2 summers ago

idle handles and summer time isn't a good combo.

What....arsonist? :roll:

StoopLady wrote: What....arsonist? :roll:

For the past few summers, rumors have been that a young white kid:
about 16 years old.
Grungy/punkish look.
Skinny w blond dreadlocks.

has set repeatedly fires to trash cans and dumpsters, especially around Underhill.

SOMEONE certainly has been, there have been way more trash can fires than one would expect... I haven't counted, but I'd say I've read about 10 such fires in the last three years. Dude (my dog) and I saw a grungy teenager like the one described near a "just beginning to really burn" trash can fire last summer at around 9 PM one night. We were on Underhill and Sterling.

http://www.brooklynian.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=57561

Meanwhile, we have no idea if the SUV fire was his work, or someone else's. Or whether the thing "naturally" caught fire as a result of a leaking gas tank.

whynot_31 wrote: [quote=StoopLady]What....arsonist? :roll:

For the past few summers, rumors have been that a young white kid:
about 16 years old.
Grungy/punkish look.
Skinny w blond dreadlocks.

has set repeatedly fires to trash cans and dumpsters, especially along Underhill.

SOMEONE certainly has been, there have been way more trash can fires than one would expect... I haven't counted, but I'd say I've read about 10 such fires in the last three years. Dude (my dog) and I saw a grungy teenager like the one described near a "just beginning to really burn" trash can fire last summer at around 9 PM one night.

http://www.brooklynian.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=57561

We have no idea if the SUV fire was his work, or someone else's. Or whether the thing "naturally" caught fire as a result of a leaking gas tank.

could be light skin dude with dreads , just playing devils advocate.

I swear if I see that guy I'm gettin' pics.

Or video

taking pics of a stranger who does dangerous things hmmm make sure put me on your will for getting control of your account here . always wanted to be a mod to nuke some accounts just for kicks.

AW-

You seem to have forgotten the correct and safe way to take someone's picture ...be the "crazy picture person".

i.e. From a standing position more than 20 feet away:
Take a picture of a fire hydrant, take a picture of a car, take a picture of your shoe, take a picture of a guy meeting the above description pouring a fluid into a dumpster and then lighting a match, take a picture of the moon, take a picture of a stray cat. Etc

...then (after calling 911) delete the others once you get home and post the good one.

Camera phones allow the picture taker to look like they are dialing a phone number while they taking a picture.

Traditional cameras can discreetly take photos from one's hip.

etc, etc.

in a real life situation most people aren't cool under fire, i seen people freeze up and other dumb things.

The trick is:

Don't say "smile!"

i still called dibs on your account!!!

if you must say "smile", make sure to also say smile to the fire hydrant, car, shoe, guy, moon and cat.

...you can do it, AW. I have faith in you.

armchair_warrior wrote: i still called dibs on your account!!!

Do you have a cat?

by cat you mean any euphemisms?

anyway answer be no .

Okay then, you pass.

Don't forget this also happened a few weeks (months?) ago on the corner of Sterling and Vanderbilt, across from the school that's apartments. Don't know the specifics but the outcome looked the same (torched car). I suppose some wise guy(s) got some new ideas about ways to make mayhem. Maybe they choose the corner because it's easier to run away and disappear.

Hear about two cars between Vandie and Underhill on Park Place and another on Eastern Parkway. Also heard rumor that "kids" are setting fire to bundles of papers on recycling day.

Hi guys, Just wanted to clean the issue at hand about the red suv which was on fire. it was mine, i am the superintendent for the building 205-225 park place and 361 sterling. according to the fire department it wasn't electrical. It seems someone used something to light it up. It may have been to steal some tv's or music from within due to the fact the door was found open by firemen. could of been a robbery. but no one got hurt and my insurance covered the truck. great site

Allfamceo, glad to hear your outlook is positive but it still sucks this has to happen to anybody. Seems so drastic to burn a car to cover up theft.