Young Marines perform at Blazers game, lose car to fire

Riveridge — The Lewis & Clark Young Marines had a fun April Fool’s Day planned, but things took a serious turn on the ride home. The Marines packed in their Suburban to travel to Portland, where they served as color guard during a Portland Trail Blazers game. While driving back to Vancouver, the Suburban, also know as “The ‘Burb,” started to smoke while the group was on North Interstate Avenue. Flames started coming from the hood, and the driver pulled over just as the vehicle shut down. They called for help, and when the police arrived, the vehicle was engulfed in smoke with flames still coming from under the hood — and one tire had exploded. Traffic was stopped in both directions and the MAX train was stopped on the tracks due to smoke. The fire department put out the fire, but the vehicle was a total loss. The group acquired the vehicle in 2009. Nobody was hurt in the fire, and no color guard gear was lost. The group is now looking for a car that carries at least eight people plus gear. Anyone with a lead on a car is asked to email Devin Lewis, unit commander at admin@LCYM.org.