With snow starting to fall on Feb. 15, the driver of a Eureka Public Works truck was salting a street in the Emerald Forest neighborhood when he noticed smoke.
Scott Barthelmass, public information officer for the Eureka Fire Protection District, said the driver exited the vehicle and found it was on fire.
The fire district was called at 1:11 p.m. and arrived on the scene, in the 4500 block of Emerald View Court, at 1:17 p.m. The fire was under control by 1:25 p.m., Barthelmass said.
He said the fire was caused by an electrical malfunction and crews stayed until 2:40 p.m.
On Tuesday (Feb. 19), Eureka Public Works supervisor Bob Wade said the city was working with its insurance agency to determine the value of the truck, which was totaled.
Wade said he did not yet know how much it will cost to replace the vehicle.