Fire Erupts On San Gabriel Valley Freeway

DIAMOND BAR, CA -- An electric vehicle caught fire on the side of the Orange (57) Freeway south of Diamond Bar Saturday, touching off a one-acre brush fire that was quickly extinguished, authorities said.

Witnesses reported the vehicle fire at 1:11 p.m. on the southbound Orange Freeway south of Brea Canyon Road, the California Highway Patrol said. The vehicle, which was completely destroyed, was described as a black and blue BMW electric car.

Los Angeles County firefighters were dispatched to the scene at 1:13 p.m., Dispatch Supervisor Melanie Flores said. Brea and Orange County Fire Authority firefighters and an OCFA helicopter also responded, the OCFA said.

The CHP issued a SigAlert at 2:34 p.m. for the No. 4 and No. 5 lanes on the 57 Freeway.

The flames were out at 1:46 p.m., Flores said. Mop-up operations were underway.

--City News Service/Photo via Shutterstock