Thousand Oaks, CA – A vehicle fire on the northbound 101 Freeway near the Moorpark Road exit in Thousand Oaks erupted into a brief but intense brush fire early Sunday morning, October 8, 2023, at 3:59 a.m., prompting a rapid response from the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and Ventura County Fire Department (VCFD). The blaze, which spread from a fully engulfed car to nearby trees and brush, was swiftly extinguished by VCFD crews, preventing further damage in a region prone to wildfires.
At 3:59 a.m., CHP’s Moorpark Station received a report of a car fire on the northbound 101 Freeway, just south of the Moorpark Road exit. CHP officers arrived to find a sedan consumed by flames on the right shoulder, with fire spreading to adjacent dry brush and igniting several trees. VCFD units, including Engine 50 from Thousand Oaks, responded within minutes, deploying hose lines to knock down the fire in under 15 minutes, preventing it from advancing further into the hillside.
No injuries were reported, and the vehicle’s occupant, if present, had safely evacuated before CHP’s arrival. The car, reduced to a charred frame, was towed, and the freeway’s right lane was briefly closed, causing minor delays, as noted in X posts from @CHPMoorpark. The fire scorched approximately a quarter-acre of brush, per VCFD estimates, with no structural damage or evacuations required. CHP is investigating the fire’s cause, with early speculation pointing to mechanical failure or an external spark, though no official determination has been made. Tips can be reported to CHP Moorpark at (805) 553-0800
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