Murrieta PD patrol car destroyed in apparent engine fire

Two engine crews responded to put out the flames after a Murrieta Police Department patrol car caught on fire today in Menifee.

A Murrieta Police officer was driving north on Menifee Road just north of Scott Road about 11:20 a.m. when he saw smoke coming from the engine, said Lt. Ron Driscoll. Lynn Korito, a who lives on Eagle Drive, was in her car at the stop sign, waiting to turn left onto Scott Road, when the patrol car drove past her.

"I was waiting and as he went by me, there was a big cloud of smoke," Korito said. "I could see there was something like oil or gas dripping. He pulled over right there [on Scott Road]. I pulled up to his car and he [the officer] was on the radio and pulling stuff out of the car.

"I turned my car around and went back to my garage, got a fire extinguisher and took it to him. He tried to get it out, but he couldn't really do anything with an engine fire like that."

Driscoll said that other than confirming it was an engine fire, there were no specifics about the cause, which totalled the car. In addition to firefighters, Menifee Police officers arrived to provide traffic control and assistance.

No one was injured. 

Staff photos

 Video courtesy of Lynn Korito