CHP officer injured in car fire on Hwy 80 Treasure Island ramp

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- A Treasure Island ramp on the Bay Bridge has reopened after a car fire injured a California Highway Patrol officer Monday evening, CHP officials said.

Officers were notified of the fire around 7:30 p.m. on eastbound Interstate Highway 80 off-ramp, CHP Officer Vu Williams said.

The CHP officer smelled smoke coming from his trunk, so he quickly got off the ramp to Treasure Island just before his car erupted into flames. The officer called for help and shortly after two CHP officers got out of their cars to assist. The trunk then exploded.

"We saw an oxygen tank in there because we do carry oxygen in our EMT kits and that looked like it had exploded, so that could be a cause," said CHP officer John Zatezalo. "It could be the fuel tank. We do have flares in there as well."

One officer was hit in the arm with shrapnel. The other suffered from smoke inhalation. Both were taken to San Francisco General Hospital with minor injuries.

San Francisco firefighters responded to the scene and extinguished the blaze, a fire dispatcher said.

The CHP says it does not carry ammunition in their trunks.

The cause of the explosion is still unknown, but investigators will be examining the patrol car more closely Tuesday morning.