What started as a normal afternoon in Arlington, Virginia, quickly turned dramatic when an Amazon delivery van suddenly caught fire.
Thick black smoke spiraled high into the sky, alarming residents from miles away, including those across the river in the northeast suburbs of Washington, DC.
Flames Engulf Sprinter Van Near Residential Area
The fiery incident happened on Clark Street South, not far from 23rd Street South.
The vehicle involved—a black, petrol-powered Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van—was parked in a lot when it suddenly erupted into flames.
Thankfully, the fire did not affect any nearby buildings, though it did spread to some nearby bushes.
No Injuries, No Packages Damaged
According to a statement from Arlington Fire and EMS, the fire was triggered by an engine malfunction.
Officials were quick to clarify that there was no explosion, and—perhaps surprisingly for an Amazon vehicle—no packages were onboard at the time of the fire.
Most importantly, no one was hurt.
Black Smoke Seen from Miles Away
The intensity of the blaze sent columns of smoke visible across the city skyline.
It wasn’t long before bystanders posted images and videos online, capturing the scene from various neighborhoods, some located several miles away.
Sprinter Vans Previously Recalled for Fire Risk
This fiery incident has raised some eyebrows due to a recent recall.
In 2023, Mercedes-Benz recalled around 53,000 Sprinter vans from the 2019 and 2020 model years.
That recall was triggered after 11 vehicles caught fire, with investigations pointing to a fault in the fuse layout.
Apparently, the wiring harness in the climate control system could overheat and potentially start a fire.
Investigators on the Case
It’s still unclear whether this specific van was part of that recall.
Fire marshals are now digging into the cause of the blaze to determine whether it ties back to the known issue or if this was an unrelated malfunction.
What Comes Next?
As authorities investigate, this incident is likely to raise new concerns about delivery van safety—especially in high-traffic urban areas.
Meanwhile, Amazon and Mercedes-Benz may come under renewed scrutiny to ensure past recalls are being properly addressed and any further risks are minimized.
