Load too heavy?

Hybrid vehicle suddenly burst into flames

The vehicle was already fully engulfed in flames when the emergency services arrived.(Bild: FF Tröpolach)

On his way towards the Nassfeld Pass in Carinthia on Friday afternoon, a 58-year-old Belgian noticed that smoke had started to develop in the engine compartment of his hybrid vehicle.

With a motorcycle trailer in tow, the Belgian was traveling uphill on the B90 when he noticed heavy smoke coming from the engine compartment of his hybrid vehicle. Although he immediately parked the car at the side of the road and alerted the fire department, the car was already fully engulfed in flames when the emergency services arrived.

The occupants were able to get out of the car in time.(Bild: FF Hermagor)

The burnt-out car was removed from the scene of the accident with the quarantine container for electric vehicles.(Bild: FF Hermagor)

Because it was a hybrid vehicle, the recovery proved to be more difficult.(Bild: FF Hermagor)

The occupants were able to get out of the car in time.(Bild: FF Hermagor)

A total of four fire departments were deployed(Bild: FF Hermagor)

Completely burnt out
"The fact that it was a hybrid vehicle made the extinguishing work more difficult", according to the provincial police headquarters. The car burned out completely: "After the extinguishing work, the Villach main fire station was called in with its quarantine container for electric vehicles to safely remove the vehicle," said the Hermagor volunteer fire department, which was deployed together with colleagues from Tröpolach and Rattendorf.

It is still unclear what caused the fire. The police suspect that the engine overheated due to the heavy load being pulled. There were no injuries.