Fourth of July parade horses rescued from trailer fire on Orange County freeway

Three horses returning from marching in Huntington Beach’s Fourth of July parade were rescued from a Santa Ana freeway fire Wednesday afternoon after the trailer they were in burst into flames.

The Norco family heading home from the parade with their horses was driving northbound on the 55 Freeway near Dyer Road at 1 p.m. when their trailer ignited after a propane tank shook loose and began dragging on the ground, Orange County Fire Authority spokesman Capt. Tony Bommarito said.

Seconds before firefighters arrived on the scene, the family freed the horses from the trailer before the flames spread to the rear where the horses stood. Orange County and Costa Mesa firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze.

No people or horses were injured, officials said.