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UPDATED: TCH vehicle fire caused by mechanical failure

An SUV on fire halted northbound highway traffic and slowed southbound commuters Thursday morning
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A silver SUV caught fire in a northbound lane on the Trans-Canada Highway during the Thursday morning commute. (News Gazette staff)

A vehicle fire on the Trans-Canada Highway left northbound traffic at a standstill during the Thursday morning commute.

Multiple first responders were called to Hwy 1 between the View Royal and Millstream Road exits at around 7:30 a.m. after a silver SUV caught fire in a northbound lane.

According to View Royal Fire Chief Paul Hurst, two engines arrived on scene within five minutes of the 911 call but the SUV’s engine compartment was fully engulf when firefighters arrived on scene.

Hurst noted the occupants of the SUV managed to pull over and exit without injury.

Both northbound lanes were temporarily closed while crews extinguished the blaze and Westshore Towing removed the vehicle from the roadway. The highway fully reopened at around 8:45 a.m.

Delays were also caused southbound as motorists slowed to look at the wreckage.

The cause of the fire was deemed accidental due to a mechanical failure.

editor@goldstreamgazette.com