Truck engulfed by flames on Elwha River Road west of Port Angeles

Published 12:01 am Thursday, December 4, 2014

PORT ANGELES — A driver who’d just warmed up his truck got more than toasty when his pickup caught fire on Elwha River Road earlier this week.

Firefighters with Clallam County Fire District No. 2 found the 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 engulfed in flames when they arrived at 5:40 p.m. Wednesday, said Lt. Troy Tisdale.

The fire was extinguished within 20 minutes, he said.

The fire department did not identify the driver.

The driver told firefighters he had let his truck warm up before driving.

When he started it, he smelled antifreeze, and when he began moving, he smelled smoke.

He pulled over and opened the hood. The engine went up in flames, which engulfed the cab.

The cause of the fire remains unknown, Tisdale said, adding that it was not suspicious.

The truck, which was destroyed, was insured, he said.

The fire department responded with a command vehicle, engine, ambulance and seven personnel who cleared the scene by 6:30 p.m.

Elwha Tribal Police and a Clallam County sheriff’s deputy also responded to the scene.