Jamestown Firefighters Extinguish Snowmobile Blaze, Owner Loses Vehicle

Jamestown firefighters responded to a snowmobile fire at 1103 2nd Ave. SW on Saturday, December 14, arriving after dispatch at 8:02 p.m. Eleven personnel and three units fought the blaze and cleared the scene at 8:38 p.m., according to the department incident report. The snowmobile was a total loss.

According to Capt. Sheldon Mohr of the Fire Department, the owner had been working on the machine inside a garage when the fire began. The owner pulled the snowmobile out of the garage prior to crews arriving, and firefighters extinguished the flames on the vehicle. The incident report lists no injuries.

The quick response and coordinated action by multiple units limited the incident to the snowmobile itself, though the vehicle was destroyed. The event provides a concrete example of a common winter hazard in Stutsman County, where residents frequently perform maintenance on snowmobiles and other recreational equipment in attached or detached garages.

For local residents, the episode carries several practical implications. Working on gasoline powered equipment indoors increases the risk of ignition from fuel leaks, hot surfaces, or electrical faults. Moving a burning or suspected flammable vehicle out of an enclosed structure can reduce exposure to greater property damage, but it also carries safety risks if done without protective equipment or training. The department record shows that coordinated emergency response can contain such incidents, but prevention remains the most reliable protection for households.

The department response time and staffing level reflect current local emergency resources serving Jamestown and surrounding areas. As winter usage of snowmobiles and similar machines rises, residents should review safe handling and storage practices, maintain functioning smoke detection in garages and homes, and consider professional service for repairs that involve fuel systems or electrical work. The fire report from December 14 will be part of ongoing local records used by fire officials to assess response patterns and community safety education needs.