Sparks From Vehicle Started Wildfires

A malfunctioning catalytic converter might be to blame

By JONATHAN LLOYD

Updated 8:39 AM PST, Wed, Nov 4, 2009

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A malfunctioning catalytic converter, cardboard boxes and some dry brush created "islands of fire" Tuesday in the Diamond Bar area.

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The fires threatened several homes and sent smoke over the Pomona and Diamond Bar area. The blazes started at multiple points, just south of the 60 Freeway near Phillips Ranch Road.

Authorities told NBCLA that they interviewed the driver of a vehicle who told them his pickup was malfunctioning. Authorities said the vehicle's malfunctioning catalytic converter ignited cardboard boxes in the truck bed.

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"Most of the fires are along the freeway," said Mike Brown of LA County Fire. "It's very visible from the freeway. It's moving south-southeast toward the Chino Valley area.

"There are numerous islands of fire that firefighters are contending with."

Investigators said the driver was not aware the sparks had started fires.

Smoke was seen coming off one of the hot spots early Wednesday but at least 10 firefighters were assigned to patrol the burned areas overnight, said L.A. County Fire Supervisor Ray Dong.

"Our units are keeping an eye on it," Dong told City News Service. "If something flares up they'll knock it down."

According to the preliminary investigation, the fire began in "six to eight locations," said county fire Inspector Steve Zermeno. At least three different reports of fire were received from the area.

The fires started at about noon.

At least 50 acres burned, but the fires spread across several miles.

The response included a SuperScooper, which flew to the location from Van Nuys Airport. Authorities said more than 100 firefighters responded to the area.

Although conditions are warm in the area, winds are light.

"We still have dry brush out there," Brown said.

Diamond Ranch School was evacuated.

The location is about 30 miles east of downtown Los Angeles.

The Freeway Complex fire burned 30,305 acres in the area in the fall of 2008. That fire began in the Corona area and burned north into Diamond Bar, through much of Chino Hills.