[LA MESA — Tues Jan. 14, 3:00 p.m.]
A California Highway Patrol Dodge Charger patrol car caught fire Tuesday afternoon near Grossmont Boulevard and Jackson Drive, prompting a fire response and brief traffic impacts in La Mesa.
Firefighters arrived to find the Charger fully engulfed. According to the officer who was driving, he noticed smoke inside the cabin and lowered the windows, after which smoke increased from the rear of the vehicle. He pulled over, but the fire spread rapidly, originating from the trunk area where radios and other equipment are stored.
The officer safely exited the vehicle and was able to retrieve his weapons and ammunition before the fire burned through the cruiser. He was not injured.
Dispatch records show Jackson Drive was temporarily shut down while crews worked the scene. Heartland Fire’s Engine 13 responded and controlled the fire, and a tow truck later removed the vehicle.
The Dodge Charger was described as a relatively new patrol unit with about 30,000 miles and no auxiliary battery installed in the trunk. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
