A toy truck fire that occurred in Gloucester last Wednesday provides a cautionary tale for parents of small children.

Lieutenant Tony Villani, Fire Prevention Officer with Gloucester Volunteer Fire and Rescue Squad, responded to a call on June 9 for a toy dump truck on fire. When he and his crew arrived on Engine 45, the toy was blazing, and firefighters extinguished it with a water can, but all that was left were a few small pieces of metal and a black, smoldering spot in the grass where the toy had been.

Villani said the homeowner reported that the toy truck, which the family had recently purchased used, had quit working earlier that morning, and they left it outside. Later, they saw smoke and went outdoors to investigate, only to find the toy in flames. They said the truck was not plugged in to a charger. They moved it away from the house and filmed it as they waited for the fire department. It quickly became engulfed by flames.

“Imagine what would have happened if the toy had been stored inside their home, garage, or shed,” said Villani. “Because it was plastic, it burned hot and quickly. It would’ve quickly spread to destruction.”

Since the truck was completely consumed by fire, Villani said there was no way to determine why it had burst into flames, but he theorized that the toy or the 12-volt battery in it could have developed a short or had a manufacturer’s defect, or that a previous owner might have replaced the original battery with one not suited for it.

“I’ve never heard of a toy like that having caught on fire and burned,” he said. “People need to be wary, and be mindful not to modify such a toy with a battery that’s not designed for it. It’s important for people to know that the potential exists for these products to burst into flames.”

Villani cautioned parents to not keep such toys inside a structure, but to leave them in the yard, perhaps covered with a tarp.

“I wouldn’t want one in my house or my garage, or even my storage shed,” he said.

GVFRS fire prevention officers provide safety inspections to help identify fire hazards around a home, clubhouse, or business, said Villani. To make an appointment, visit www.gvfrs.org, click on the Fire Prevention page, and complete the interactive form.