By Michael Riley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A vehicle, a white Toyota RAV4 SUV, caught fire in the parking lot of TD Bank on the Main Street of Bancroft on the morning of Sept. 17. 

Matt Musclow, the deputy fire chief with the Bancroft Fire Department, told The Bancroft Times that crews were dispatched that morning for a vehicle fire at that location.  

“[We] arrived to a find a passenger vehicle with fire showing from the engine compartment of the vehicle.   Crews contained the fire to the vehicle and stopped the spread of fire to any near by buildings.  No injuries were reported and damage was contained to the vehicle only,” he says. 

Derek Glancy says he saw the plume of smoke as he was returning from visiting his father at the North Hastings Hospital.

“I saw a plume of smoke as I was coming up to the lights at the Brew Pub as I came towards TD [Bank], I saw the fire department and car, so I quickly pulled into the public parking lot across the street to get a few quick photos before the fire was extinguished,” he says. 

Sargeant Erin Cranton is the communications representative with the Bancroft OPP and told The Bancroft Times that they responded to a vehicle fire just before 9:30 a.m. in a business parking lot on Hastings Street North. 

“No injuries were reported,” she says. “The fire was put out, and the vehicle was removed by tow.”