Parked BMW catches fire in BJ’s parking lot while owner shops

Riverhead Fire Department put a quick stop to a working car fire in the parking lot of BJ’s Wholesale Club Saturday afternoon.

Police arrived on the scene at about 1:30 p.m. to see a 2012 BMW 750Li with flames in the wheel wells and smoke billowing from the hood. The fire department arrived shortly thereafter and quickly put out the fire, according to police.

Craig Hasday and his son, Daniel Hasday, of Laurel, were shopping inside BJ’s when the incident took place. They has no idea until they walked outside to see the fire department gathered around the car, police said.

Riverhead Fire Department responded to the call with three trucks. They used the “Jaws-of-Life” to pry open the hood of the BMW and further examine the vehicle.

The cause of the fire is unknown, police said.

RiverheadLOCAL photos by Emil Breitenbach Jr.

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