Truck catches fire while going down road

Thankfully there were no injuries Saturday, Aug. 16, when a motorist traveling down Highway 181 in Gainesville, not far from the high school, realized his truck had caught fire while he was still inside, driving. 

The call was made to the Ozark County Sheriff’s Department dispatch line just before 3 p.m. that day, reporting a Chevy pickup truck on fire in the middle of Highway 181. The driver was able to safely escape the burning truck, and Gainesville firefighters responded and extinguished the blaze. Ozark County Sheriff’s and Missouri State Highway Patrol officers also responded. 

The U.S. Fire Administration says that mechanical and electrical issues, along with crashes, are the most common causes of vehicle fires. If you find yourself inside a car that is on fire, pull over as quickly as possible, stop the engine and get everyone out of the burning vehicle. Stand at least 100 feet away and call 911. If you think there is a fire under the hood or trunk, do not open it, as it can cause the blaze to grow.