Two Car Fire Explosions Rock Frazier Park — See Video

  • A 1991 Ford Econoline van burns in the parking lot across Mt. Pinos Way from Coffee Cantina. [photo by The Mountain Enterprise]

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    A 1991 Ford Econoline van burns in the parking lot across Mt. Pinos Way from Coffee Cantina. [photo by The Mountain Enterprise]

  • A Kern County fire fighter begins to dowse the flames of a car fire on Mt. Pinos Way in Frazier Park. [photo by The Mountain Enterprise]

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    A Kern County fire fighter begins to dowse the flames of a car fire on Mt. Pinos Way in Frazier Park. [photo by The Mountain Enterprise]

  • A Kern County fire fighter extinquishes the flames of a car fire on Mt. Pinos Way in Frazier Park. [photo by The Mountain Enterprise]

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    A Kern County fire fighter extinquishes the flames of a car fire on Mt. Pinos Way in Frazier Park. [photo by The Mountain Enterprise]

  • A Kern County fire fighter gains control of a car fire on Mt. Pinos Way in Frazier Park. [photo by The Mountain Enterprise]

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    A Kern County fire fighter gains control of a car fire on Mt. Pinos Way in Frazier Park. [photo by The Mountain Enterprise]

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Harry Spyrka of Ace Hardware shot this video of the vehicle burning beside Mt. Pinos Way in Frazier Park.

FRAZIER PARK, CA (Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011 at 4:45 p.m.)–Two explosions were heard in downtown Frazier Park at about 4:20 p.m. as a camping van was gutted by fire in the parking lot across from Coffee Cantina on Mt. Pinos Way.

Rudy and Ardyna Cramp were on their way from Reno, Nevada to Long Beach and decided to stop in Frazier Park. "We just pulled over to take the dog for a walk," Cramp told The Mountain Enterprise, as he watched his 1991 Ford Econoline van burn to a crisp. "Within a few minutes the van started burning," he said.

Kern County Fire stations 57 and 56 responded with Battalion 5 Chief John Smith. A Kern County Sheriff’s deputy kept motorists from entering the area on Mt. Pinos Way, as another explosion sent debris shooting across the lot where the van was parked.

Cramp did not know the source of the explosions, but assumed it was from either the propane tank or the gasoline tank, or both.

The Cramps did not know how they would get home and were inquiring with bystanders about how to rent a car in Frazier Park.

This is part of the January 14, 2011 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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