A motorist was uninjured when his car caught fire along Highway 57 in the early morning hours of New Year’s Day. The Brussels-Union-Gardner Fire Department responded to the scene just before 3 a.m. to find the vehicle near County Road H on Highway 57 fully engulfed in the ditch. BUG Fire Chief Curt Vandertie says the vehicle potentially caught fire in the engine compartment in the area around the tires as the driver tried to get unstuck. Vandertie says if you go into a ditch along a state highway that you are required to call for a certified tow truck operator to get you out. He adds it is just easier and safer to let them do the heavy pulling.

Crews were able to leave the scene a few hours later after putting out the fire and letting the car cool off before the tow truck operator was able to remove it from the ditch. Vandertie reminds motorists to stay in their vehicles to wait for assistance if they do get stuck in the snow.