Car goes up in flames near North Beach Park

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A North Beach Park resident became the unfortunate owner of some hot wheels Tuesday afternoon.

Firefighters from East Jefferson Fire Rescue were called to a car fire in the 5300 block of Kuhn Street just after 3:32 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26.

When they arrived at the scene, firefighters found an older black coupe with flames and smoke coming from the engine compartment. 

The blaze was rapidly extinguished with water by East Jefferson firefighters.

The fire department said the cause of the fire was the electrical charging system, which involves wiring, the battery, and the alternator.

Assistant Chief Brian Tracer noted the best way to avoid car fires is regular maintenance and inspection of vehicles, as the two most common reasons for car fires are problems with the electrical system, as was the case Tuesday, and the exhaust system. 

Tracer emphasized the importance of periodically checking the condition of wires, hoses, and other components in these systems and their connections.