Engulfed Vehicle Fire At HCH Library (with Video)

When a young mother and her 3-year old son had finished shopping at Clinton Crossing Premium Outlets in the early afternoon on October 17, they boarded their minivan to head to their home in East Haven.

They got as far as the Henry Carter Hull Library when flames enveloped their vehicle.

"She had smelled gasoline in the car as she left the outlet mall," said Library Director Maribeth Breen.

The vehicle is registered to Gabriel Melchor of East Haven.

Mrs. Melchor, who was the only adult in the car, drove the minivan into the parking lot of the library, exited it, and it began to catch on fire. A nearby library patron dialed 911.

Very soon, the Clinton Volunteer Fire Department came to the scene where they began extinguishing the flames.  They used a large circular saw to remove a portion of the minivan's hood.

Members of the fire department were able to quickly remove a child's safety seat and stroller.

Soon after, drivers of adjacent vehicles were able to move their cars to safety.

No one was hurt in the early afternoon incident.

"She was very calm," said Breen of the young mother. "She had called her husband and he was on his way to pick her up and their son."

Patch thanks David Boudinot, program director of the HCH Library, for the video.