Irvine: Funeral Escort Officer’s Bike Catches Fire, Spreads To Hillside

09.25.2024 | 10:42 AM | IRVINE – A funeral escort officer escaped injury after his motorcycle caught fire and spread flames to a nearby hillside, Wednesday morning.

Callers reported a motor officer whose bike was on fire and spreading to the rider on the northbound SR-261 Freeway south of Irvine Boulevard around 10:42 AM.

A funeral escort officer escaped injury after his motorcycle caught fire and spread flames to a nearby hillside, Wednesday morning.Photo byMiles Madison for County News Service (CountyNews.TV)

When authorities arrived they located a motorcycle on the shoulder engulfed in heavy fire with flames spreading to a nearby hillside.

Firefighters worked for about 15 minutes to extinguish the blaze and prevent the spread of flames further up the hillside.

The rider, who was described by a CHP spokesperson as a civilian funeral escort officer, reported he felt heat from his bike as he was riding and noticed flames were spreading to his pants.

The rider ditched his bike, escaping serious burns to his thighs and arms, as it continued to ignite into a ball of flames. He reported he had been performing mechanical work on his bike prior to it catching fire.

No other vehicles were involved and the rider declined medical treatment at the scene.

Video and story by Miles Madison for County News Service