Vehicle Fire on Interstate 8

Glenview: At 16:14 hours on April 19th, Lakeside Engine 3 and El Cajon Engine 8 were dispatched to a vehicle fire on east bound I-8 close to Los Coches Rd. Engine 3 reported a pick up truck with a well involved engine compartment fire on the right shoulder 1/4 mile west of Los Coches Rd.

Engine 8 arrives on scene

 Engine 3 was unable to access the fire from the west bound lanes and was forced to continue to the Greenfield exit to turn around. Meanwhile, Engine 8 was approaching on the east bound side in heavy traffic back up.

Attack line advanced

Engine 8 arrived on scene first with Engine 3 close behind and made quick work of extinguishing the flames before the fire was able to spread into the brush on the roadside. The driver and her passenger reported that the temperature gauge suddenly rose above hot and the truck lost power forcing them to pull to shoulder. The vehicle started to smoke and caught fire soon after stopping.  The girls escaped injury but the pick up was a total loss.

Fire extinguished

Submitted by: Chuck Palmore, Lakeside Fire Captain

Photos by: Steve Russo, Lakeside Firefighter/Paramedic