PORT ANGELES — A stretch of Monroe Road about two miles south of U.S. Highway 101 was reopened late this morning (Thursday) after it had been closed while firefighters extinguished a roadside car fire.
Fire crews from Clallam County Fire District No. 2 were called to the 1700 block of Monroe Road just east of Port Angeles at about 9:30 a.m. because of a fire in the engine compartment of a 2005 Subaru Outback, Fire District 2 Chief Sam Phillips said.
Both lanes of Monroe Road were closed for about 45 minutes while firefighters put out the blaze, Phillips said.
No injuries were reported, and the fire did not spread, Phillips said.
Steve Phillips, the driver of the Subaru, was driving along Monroe Road when a loud pop was heard in the engine compartment followed by flames, Phillips said. The driver is no relation to Chief Phillips.
The driver pulled to the side of the road and called 9-1-1 emergency dispatchers.
The Subaru had recently undergone engine repairs, Chief Phillips said.
He estimated the damage caused by the fire to be be more than $9,000.
The fire had reached into the passenger compartment and scorched the windshield, he said.
Chief Phillips said the car was owned by the Ruddell Auto Mall car dealership.
Two chief officers and an engine with four volunteer firefighters were called to the fire, he said.
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Reporter Jeremy Schwartz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5074, or at jschwartz@peninsuladailynews.com.
