Fiat Chrysler investigating cause of Jeep fires

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles are investigating two instances of Jeeps catching on fire.

Fires that broke out in vehicles parked in Toledo storage yards have occurred in “a specific population of vehicles” that includes none shipped to dealers or customers, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles U.S. announced Wednesday.

Nearly two dozen Jeeps in a North Toledo lot were damaged or destroyed by a fire that broke out there just before sunrise Monday. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles disclosed Wednesday that another fire involving stored vehicles occurred Tuesday, and that both were being investigated.

And on May 5, Jeeps stored on the former BAX Global ramp at Toledo Express Airport also caught fire, according to an incident report from the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority Police. Port authority firefighters and counterparts from the Ohio Air National Guard 180th Fighter Wing extinguished that fire, for which no damage estimate was given.

An FCA statement said all of the fires were the subject of an ongoing investigation. No one was known to be on the airport ramp when the fire there began.

“While the investigation is ongoing, at this time we have narrowed the pool to a specific population of vehicles,” the statement read in part. “We can confirm those vehicles have not been shipped to customers or dealers. We cannot provide further information at this time.”