Fire destroys or damages over a dozen vehicles at Washington Farms in Oconee County

By Joe Johnson

Fire destroyed or damaged 14 vehicles Saturday afternoon at Washington Farms in Oconee County.

After one vehicle caught fire, flames spread to adjoining vehicles in the parking lot of the farm that is located on Hog Mountain Road.

The incident happened on a beautiful day when families with children were enjoying the pumpkin patch, cornfield maze, hayrides and other seasonal fall activities that Washington Farms is famous for.

Seven of the vehicles were a total loss and the other seven were damaged from exposure to flames or heat, according to Cliff Threadgill, administrative coordinator for Oconee County Fire Rescue.

All of the vehicles had been unoccupied, he said, and no injuries were reported.

It was unknown how the fire initially started.

There has been speculation that the intense heat associated with vehicle catalytic converters might have caused grass to catch fire, and some at the scene heard talk about a carelessly discarded cigarette possibly being the culprit.

Coincidentally, another 14 vehicles were similarly destroyed Saturday afternoon at the Apple-Scrapple Festival in Bridgeville, Delaware.

State fire marshals determined that, like at Washington Farms, the fire began at a single vehicle and spread to the others.