A Vallejo Police Department vehicle caught fire on Interstate 80 in Fairfield, California, after an apparent electrical failure, officials said.
The officer was travelling westbound near the Abernathy Road exit on Thursday, 24 September, when smoke began coming from the rear of the marked police vehicle.
After pulling over and getting out, the officer found flames spreading through the back of the car. Firearms and other equipment were removed from inside, although the officer was unable to reach the vehicle’s fire extinguisher because of the blaze.
Electrical control module blamed
The Fairfield Fire Department attended the scene and put out the fire. The officer was not injured, and no other injuries were reported.
Vallejo police said a preliminary investigation indicated that the fire began with a failed electrical control module in the rear of the vehicle. Road flares stored nearby also ignited.
The damaged vehicle was towed back to Vallejo. Police said the equipment failure and the circumstances surrounding the incident remained under investigation.
