The Kansas City Star reports that a Clay County sheriff's deputy went to investigate the fire and found a burning car and the car's owner a safe distance away.

The owner said he was burning garbage in a field and the fire got out of control, so he tried to put out the fire by driving his van over the flames.

There was one big problem with that solution: his van was loaded with ammunition and a full tank of gas.

When the driver realized his huge error in judgment, he bailed from the car and retreated to a safe location.

The Liberty Fire Department arrived to contain the fire. The car is believed to be a total loss.

Clay County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Jon Bazzano says the owner likely will have to take a loss on the vehicle because he didn’t think insurance would cover it.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth, among others, will no longer be considered fee-free days at U.S. National Parks. While the MLK National Historic Park in Atlanta doesn't charge admission, the new schedule will affect such metro Atlanta sites as Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez

Featured

Fans celebrate in the stands after Cape Verde defeated Eswatini in a World Cup qualifying soccer match at Estádio Nacional in Praia, Cape Verde, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, to clinch their qualification for the 2026 World Cup. (Cristiano Barbosa/AP)

Credit: AP