CHP shares safety tips after vehicle lost to fire in Oakhurst

OAKHURST, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Officers with the California Highway Patrol are advising drivers how to avoid a vehicle fire after one was engulfed in flames near a highway in Oakhurst on Wednesday morning.

Officers responded to Highway 41, south of Mecca Lane, at around 10 a.m. on Wednesday after a vehicle caught fire.

CHP says the vehicle “took the nearby grass along for the ride,” but fire crews responded and were able to contain the fire.

Following the incident, officers shared some tips to avoid “turning your car into a fire-breathing dragon”:

• Regularly check for fluid leaks, cracked hoses, worn wiring, and the Check Engine light.
• Avoid parking over dry grass because a vehicle’s hot exhaust system can start a wildfire
• Don’t store flammable stuff in the vehicle, such as flammable gases or fireworks.

“Stay cool. Drive smart. And keep your car from becoming a firestarter!” CHP wrote.

The cause of the fire is unknown.