A fire in a pickup truck backed up north- and southbound highway traffic as firefighters battled the blaze Sunday.
Doug Penny, Nanoose Volunteer Fire Department chief, said firefighters were called out at about 2 p.m. and found a Chevy pickup truck pulled over near the rest area at the Nanoose flats with its engine and cab fully engulfed in flames when they arrived.
Crews on the scene were not able to pinpoint what caused the fire.
“Cause? Your guess is as good as mine,” Penny said.
“It was certainly in the engine compartment, but whether it was a fuel leak or oil on something – you never know. All it takes is the right conditions at the right time.”
The driver and passenger from the truck were not injured and no other vehicles were involved.
Travel was halted in both directions for more than one kilometre for at least 20 minutes as the fire was brought under control.
“Traffic was already stopped when we arrived,” Penny said. “I think it was an off-duty Dashwood firefighter who had stopped traffic.”