Cozumel, Q.R. — An electrical fault in an ATV that was left keyed in the “on” position has been the confirmed cause of a fire that destroyed part of a Cozumel company. Cozumel ATV tour company Aviomar Adventours suffered a loss of some of their units during an overnight fire.
There had been accusations of possible arson, however, authorities say an electrical fault in an ATV battery was to blame. “The Quintana Roo State Attorney General’s Office reports that, after a thorough inspection and as a result of analyses carried out by experts specializing in fires and explosives, it was possible to determine that the fire originated from a short circuit in one of the vehicles,” the FGE reported in a statement Friday.
The fire happened on their property on the Southern Coastal Perimeter Highway where ATVs were stored.
“Following the fire that occurred early Sunday morning in the structure where approximately 50 ATVs were stored, the State Attorney General (FGE) initiated the corresponding investigation to determine the causes of the conflagration, which resulted in the destruction of 38 of said units,” they explained.
“The expert analysis concluded that the accident had an accidental origin, resulting from a short circuit in the electrical wiring of the battery of an ATV, identified as number 35. This battery was located near the filter and the fuel tank, which would have facilitated the combustion.
“During the inspection, relevant evidence included electrical wiring with damage consistent with a short circuit, the key in the ignition switch, and the battery with damage consistent with the fire’s origin.
“It was determined that the vehicles had been left with the ignition switch on and fueled, which, combined with the overheating of the wiring, likely caused the fire.”
Authorities said that two maintenance shops between 10 and 15 meters from where the ATVs caught fire also housed fuel and other motorized vehicles. During the fire, neither of the maintenance shops were damaged.
“The Public Prosecutor’s Office will continue with the corresponding proceedings; however, it has been preliminarily determined that the incident was an accidental event and not caused by external factors,” they said.
Riviera Maya News serving Quintana Roo Mexico since 2014
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