A Kia Sportage caught on fire in northwest Ocala on Monday morning.
At around 7:50 a.m., Ocala Fire Rescue’s Engines 1 and Rescue 1 were dispatched to NW 35th Avenue Road due to reports of a vehicle fire.
Upon arrival, the units found a white Kia Sportage that was fully engulfed in flames. The driver was outside of the vehicle.
The crews used Engine 1’s pre-connected hose line and extinguished the fire within five minutes.
No injuries were reported.
“Attentive drivers are crucial to avoiding incidents. Had it not been for a fellow driver alerting the Kia’s occupant of a fire, the outcome of this call could have been much worse,” said Public Information Officer Ashley Lopez.
Ocala Fire Rescue reminds everyone to pull over safely and inspect their vehicle if they smell or see smoke while driving. According to OFR, drivers should take the following steps if a vehicle fire starts: stop the vehicle, shut off the ignition, exit the vehicle, and call 911.