Vehicle Fire Slows Saturday Traffic on Interstate 494 in Maple Grove

A vehicle fire on northbound Interstate 494 in Maple Grove Saturday, Sept. 24 slowed traffic while crews worked to extinguish the fire.

The responded to a call and arrived at the scene on the Interstate 494 northbound ramp to westbound Interstate 94 about 10:30 a.m. on Saturday. The incident report stated an individual was towing a newly purchased vehicle on Interstate 94 when the vehicle caught fire.

The vehicle was considered a “total loss,” according to the report which stated the estimated value was $600. No cause of the fire was listed.

According to Fire Chief Scott Anderson, the responds to a few car fires each month.

“Car fires that occur while the car is driving are often due to overheating or fuel problems,” Anderson said. “When they are parked, fires are often caused by electrical problems.”

One of the biggest concerns while responding to a vehicle fire is the safety of firefighters on the freeway with cars passing by at high speed few feet away, according to Anderson.

“We hope those drivers have two hands on the wheel and are alert as they pass the fire,” he said.