Published on July 30, 2018

Menlo Park Fire Protection District – VEHICLE FIRE ON WILLOW ROAD

Menlo Park Firefighters have completely extinguished and overhauled a fully involved vehicle fire on the eastbound Willow Road overpass crossing Highway 101.

The vehicle fire was reported at 3.07 pm with Menlo Engine 2 arriving on-scene at 3.11 pm and Captain Mike Stahl reporting they had “a single fully involved passenger vehicle and they would be attacking the fire with a pre-connected bumper hose line”. Menlo Engine 1 arrived on-scene at 3.12 for personnel support and additional water supply if needed.

The fire was brought under control by 3.22 pm with Firefighters having completely extinguished, overhauled and picked up their hoses and equipment by 3.46 pm. The cause of the Fire is unknown, the reported female occupant was observed walking away from the scene and was not located by Firefighters.

At one point, both directions of traffic were stopped by Menlo Park Police Officers to allow Firefighters to safely operate on the overpass, which is under construction. West Bound Willow Road lanes were quickly opened and eventually eastbound lanes were partially opened but the burnt out vehicle still blocked one lane and needed to be towed from the span due its extensive damage which was so severe it exploded and melted its tires.

The vehicle fire further impacted traffic coming through Menlo Park and Palo Alto down Willow Road to Highway 101 and the Dumbarton Bridge for a period of time. Fire Chief Schapelhouman said “commuter traffic starts at 2pm and is normally bad, incidents like this vehicle fire tend to only compound an already difficult situation and make it exponentially worse”.

Please see the short video below and give credit to Menlo Fire Chief 1

Pictured Above – Menlo Park Firefighters extinguish a fully involved passenger vehicle on east bound Willow Road over Highway 101 at 3.15 pm Wednesday afternoon - Please give photo and to Menlo Fire Chief 1

Pictured Above – Menlo Park Firefighters on Engine 2 and 1 overhaul what was a fully involved passenger vehicle on east bound Willow Road over Highway 101 at 3.25 pm Wednesday afternoon - Please give photo credit to Menlo Fire Chief 1