A St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office patrol unit and a mechanic service truck owned by St. Mary Parish were damaged in a fire that also scorched roughly two to three miles of levee in Patterson on Monday morning.
Just after 9:30 a.m., the Patterson Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to the levee near Wilson’s Landing for a service truck fire at the bottom of the levee. Investigators believe the truck’s exhaust ignited grass beneath the vehicle, sparking a blaze that spread quickly along the levee. It is the second parish-owned truck that was damaged by fire along the levee in less than a week as firefighters were called to extinguish a truck on fire on Tuesday, September 1.
As additional fire units and manpower responded, a sheriff’s office patrol unit parked at the top of the levee also caught fire and sustained damage.
A statement from the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office said, ” At approximately 9:40 am, a deputy was dispatched to the levee near Wilson’s Landing in the Patterson area in reference to a possible vehicle on fire. Upon arrival, the deputy located a vehicle that was on fire while parked on the levee roadway. The grass in the area was tall enough to come into contact with the vehicle, which may have contributed to the ignition.
Patterson Fire Chief Scott Hutton said mutual aid was provided by Chitimacha, District 11, Stephensville, Centerville, Bayou Vista, and Berwick Volunteer Fire Departments to help bring the fire under control.
