Fargo police are looking for a man who pushed a burning car up next to Country Greenery, 2901 13th Ave. S., Friday afternoon and took off before emergency crews arrived.
Fire and police crews responded to the business shortly after 4 p.m. They found that the front of an early model white sedan parked next to the west wall of the business was on fire. The flames blackened part of Country Greenery's wall and green awning before being extinguished.
Witnesses reported seeing a man pushing and steering the smoking car from Page Drive South into the Country Greenery parking lot with the hood facing the wall.
Angel Hecker, who works in Sun World Tanning across the street from where the fire occurred, said she noticed flames coming from underneath the car after the man parked it. Then there was an explosion of flames, which engulfed the car's front and scorched the building's side.
Hecker went outside and called out to the man, asking if he wanted her to call 911. She noticed he didn't seem worried as he looked at the burning car.
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"He didn't look that panicky ... until he took off running, then I was like 'Oh my God,' " she said. The man fled east from the area on foot, she said.
Alma Cater, owner of Country Greenery, wasn't present when the incident occurred but said it was unusual as a tow truck removed the car from the scene.
"Who pushes a burning car against a building?"
Cater said damage costs to the building's wall likely won't be known until next week.
It is unknown if the man was the car's owner. Police could not be reached Friday evening for details.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Benny Polacca at (701) 241-5504 Man runs away after car catches fire by business Benny Polacca 20071006
