What a way to begin 2021 if 2020 wasn’t bad enough! I just finished a great weekend at the Mesquite MX RMX #86 MX race with my new 2021 Yamaha YZ250F finishing 12th overall for 3 motos for 250 Beginners so I thought I was on my way.
So after the New Year’s race it was going to be back to school on Monday. Never know when I have to go to school or if I have online classes. School is a nightmare! Anyway, Monday morning was school day for me. I live in Payson but go to school in Springville. I am working on getting my old truck in shape but still have a long way to go before it’s worthy. I love this truck but need money to fix it up. With racing, gear, gas, insurance, school, food, etc., etc., it seems like it never ends; right? So, in the mean time I am able to drive my mom’s old Lexus which has over 240,000 miles on it. Yeah, that’s a lot of miles but it was still running and worked for me for the time being.
I got in the car and got on I-15 headed north to Springville this morning when after a few miles on the interstate between the Benjamin exit and the Spanish Fork exit white smoke started coming through the vents filling the car. I pulled over as quickly as I could and jumped out and then immediately called 911 and told them my car was on fire. What next?
SOME INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT CAR FIRES:
There are more than 170,000 highway vehicle fires in the United States every year. Most of these fires begin with problems in the engine, drivetrain or wheel areas. They may also be caused by a faulty design or defective parts.
There are more than 19 vehicle fires every hour in the United States. They account for 1 in every 8 calls that fire departments respond to.
Vehicle fires kill nearly seven people every week. They cause another 1,300 injuries and $1.1 billion in property damage every year. Passenger cars and trucks are responsible for 83 percent of all highway vehicle fires, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.
The car is a total loss and I’m back to having no car to get to school or work. I started work at Rocky Mountain ATV in Payson so I have to get from School in Springville to Payson to start work at 3:30. I’ll have to figure something out.
At least I’m okay and the car fire wasn’t like a weird Hollywood movie and blow up! If anybody has a good used beater let me know. The weather gets pretty ugly this time of year with a lot of snow so it’s got to at least handle in the snow so I don’t kill myself.
I want to give a huge and big shout out to the Police and Fire Departments that responded to the fire. It was also pretty neat that they had worked and knew my grandpa. They asked if I was part of the Thomas family that used to run Dumbbells Gym in Payson. The Policeman actually was one of the first members there. The Fire Marshal worked with Grandpa at Provo said that he worked with him for over six years. Grandpa was also the Senior Inspector and Assistant Fire Marshal in Park City where he eventually retired back in 2013. Yes, it’s a small, small world and I’m grateful for these guys who helped me. Thanks to all of them that put themselves in danger to put the fire out and not get hit by crazy Utah drivers!
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Way to keep your cool Taylor and act under control. That's a true sign of a mature and thinking young man!