Car catches fire on I-90 near Arlington Heights

A vehicle caught fire on I-90 near Arlington Heights while it was being towed, fire officials said.

A flatbed tow truck with one car on the bed and another car being towed behind it was driving west on I-90 when passers-by caught the attention of the driver and told him the car he was towing was on fire, according to Arlington Heights Fire Department Battalion Chief Bill Essling.

The driver pulled the truck to the side of the road and disconnected the burning car before trying to put out the fire with a fire extinguisher, Essling said. When he was unable to do so, he moved the truck away from the burning vehicle and called 911.

Firefighters from Arlington Heights, Schaumburg and Elk Grove responded and quickly extinguished the fire. No injuries were reported, and I-90 remained open, according to Essling.

Essling commended the tow truck driver's actions, saying he prevented the fire from getting worse.

"It was good thinking on his part pulling that tow truck away from the fire and getting those other cars out of danger," Essling said.