Crime & Safety
Car Fire Shuts Down Highway 441
A car fire around 5 p.m. on Friday spread into nearby woods and closed Highway 441 near Branch Road for over a half an hour.
Traffic came to a halt Friday evening after a car fire closed Highway 441 near Branch Road for 30-40 minutes.
It happened about 5 p.m. when a Franklin, North Carolina resident's Mercedes 380 SL suddenly burst into flames, said. The driver told authorities a "pop" was heard, and the car was pulled off on the shoulder of the road just as flames began shooting out from underneath. Fire spread immediately to the nearby woods and right of way, Thaxton said.
Engine 201 extinguished the car fire, which was fully engulfed when the fire department arrived. Engine 101, Mini-pumper 203, and Tanker 202 extinguished the woods fire, he said. About one acre of woods was consumed by the flames, he added.
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No one was injured and cause of the fire is unknown, he reported.
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