A portion of an Albert Lea Grocery Store was evacuated for a time Saturday after a vehicle caught fire outside the business.
Around 12:10pm Saturday, the Albert Lea Fire Department was summoned to Hy-Vee, located on Bridge Avenue, in response to a report of a vehicle on fire.
When firefighters arrived, they found a 2001 Pontiac Aztec on fire, with flames encroaching on the east side of the building, according to a press release.
The Liquor Store part of the business was evacuated as a precautionary measure, as fire crews worked to extinguish the blaze.
After the fire was extinguished, the structure was ventilated.
An internal investigation revealed the fire was caused by a mechanical failure in the vehicle’s engine compartment.
The car was described as a total loss.
The store itself sustained minimal damage and reopened before fire crews left the scene.
No injuries were reported.