Mom, 2 Kids Escape Minivan Fire on Route 15

No one was injured when a minivan burst into flames on Route 15 South Thursday afternoon, Sparta Police said.

A Vernon woman was traveling with her two children, ages 8 and 13, on the highway by the Blue Heron Interchange when she noticed smoke coming from her Mercury Villager, according to Sgt. John-Paul Beebe.

The woman pulled over by the 11-mile marker and was able to escape safely with her two children before the car caught on fire, Beebe said.

When the Sparta Fire Department arrived around 1:30 p.m., the minivan was completely engulfed, and was able to extinguish the blaze within minutes, Beebe said.

The exact cause of the fire, which destroyed the vehicle, is unkown, but Beebe said it was some type of mechanical defect.

Sparta Police also responded to the scene, Beebe said. He said the fire shut down the highway for about 25 minutes.