Misfiring cars cause fire hazards along highways

Dry brush borders many of the highways coming in and out of the Coachella Valley, and can be the perfect fuel for a fire.

Firefighters put out a 5-acre-brush fire along Highway 60 in the Moreno Valley on Monday morning. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but fire crews don’t think it was started by a cigarette butt because of high levels of humidity.

The most likely culprit for the start of the fire was a malfunctioning car traveling down the road.

“We always want to make sure that people take care of their vehicles, because there is some things in your vehicle that can be dangerous when they get hot, and then with the catalytic converter it can actually cause a fire, we’re not sure on this fire particularly, but that’s something that we will check on,” said Lucas Spelman, public information officer with the Riverside County Fire Department.

Drivers should also make sure their cars aren’t leaking any fluid.

“Make sure there’s no leaks and make sure the exhaust system is closed to make sure there is no exposure. Also, make sure the heat shields are on and intact and there are no kinks or bends,” said Sergio Ceballos, a mechanic working at Sergio’s in Thousand Palms.

If drivers keep their car properly maintained they should normally have no problems.

If you notice the engine running rough or misfiring you should have it checked as soon as possible.

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