Car catches fire outside of Costa Mesa High

Three drivers escaped uninjured Tuesday after two cars caught fire in separate incidents and third was involved in a collision, according to authorities.

Costa Mesa firefighters responded to a call that a silver Ford Focus was on fire at 12:35 p.m. at Fairview Road and Mustang Way in front of Costa Mesa High School.

Capt. Brent Turner said the driver, Maria Najera, of Costa Mesa, had just been at her mechanic’s shop before the engine caught fire.

She said her vehicle was feeling a little sluggish and her mechanic told her to use higher-octane fuel. As she tried to make a U-turn in front of Mesa, Najera saw smoke come out front under the hood, Turner said.

She pulled over, got out and called the Fire Department. The fire reportedly burned the engine compartment and hood and cracked part of the windshield, Turner said.

The 405 Freeway also saw its share of car troubles Tuesday.

Two vehicles collided and another caught fire, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Both incidents occurred on the freeway’s northbound side but don’t appear to be related, CHP Officer Denise Quesada said.

The CHP received a call at 1:13 p.m. from the driver of a Toyota Tercel that had been smoking and flaming as it traveled along the freeway, said Quesada and Officer Jon Letosquin.

The car stopped on the shoulder, just north of Harbor Boulevard.

The driver was OK and paramedics were not needed, Quesada said.

A Honda Civic and BMW collided about 1:13 p.m., according to Letosquin and the CHP website. The Honda came to rest facing the wrong way.

No injuries were reported, the CHP website said.