No injuries after AZ Dept.of Agriculture pickup catches on fire

No injuries were reported after an Arizona Department of Agriculture pickup truck caught on fire due to surrounding hay at West County 18th Street and South Avenue E Wednesday afternoon.

Somerton Cocopah Fire Department said firefighters arrived at the scene and found an Arizona Department of Agriculture Inspector’s pickup truck that was fully involved. The driver was not injured, according to authorities.

The driver, an inspector with the Department of Agriculture, was examining a date palm grove. Fire officials said dry hay had been spread on the sand path adjoining the date palm grove. When the two-wheeled drive pickup’s rear tires became buried in the sand, the heat of the vehicle lit up the dry hay and caused the vehicle to catch on fire.

Rural Metro assisted in putting out the remaining fire.