A GROUP of travellers on the Sturt Highway last week escaped a car moments before it caught on fire – which then sparked to the surrounding scrub.
People travelling in a car on the Sturt Highway towards Blanchetown on Thursday, December 3, stopped the vehicle and evacuated with their belongings just before it began burning.
Waikerie Country Fire Service (CFS) captain Shaun Arnold said the driver noticed smoke rising from one of the car tyres and pulled over.
“The reason for the car fire is unknown, but fortunately no one was injured and the fire didn’t spread far into the scrub,” he said.
“The fire spread to both sides of the road and burned about one hectare of scrub. (It was) not a large area, but it was burning well.
“CFS units from Blanchetown and Waikerie, as well as bolt water carriers from the Barossa Valley and upriver, attended the scene and fully extinguished the fires.”
Fire-cause investigators are looking into the incident.