Dallas police say a busy freeway on the western edge of the city was closed after a police squad car containing ammunition caught fire.
The car was on Loop 12 at Jefferson Boulevard just before 2 p.m. Thursday when it ignited.
Black smoke could be seen billowing into the air from the car, but firefighters kept their distance as repeated explosions tore through the car. They moved in to put out the fire only after the explosions stopped.
The two officers in the car escaped unhurt, and there were no other injuries.
Police said the initial investigation shows that a combustible material stuck to the 2004 Dodge Intrepid's catalytic converter and ignited. The vehicle has approximately 96,000 miles on it, police said.
Everything happened so fast that the officers didn't have time to get their AR-15 semiautomatic rifle out of the trunk, the police said.
The police department cleared the freeway on all sides to keep anyone from getting hurt.
