Vehicle Fire Closes Down Highway in Scotland County

Around 3:45 pm Thursday the Scotland County Fire Department and Scotland County Sheriff’s Department were dispatched for a vehicle fire on Highway 15 north of Memphis. The driver reported to officials that the car was experiencing mechanical issues and that she had pulled off the edge of the roadway into a driveway when she noticed the engine compartment was on fire. She reported the fire and retrieved her personal belongings from the vehicle.

Despite the slick highway conditions and extreme cold temperatures, the fire department arrived on scene quickly and extinguished the fire. The car sustained extensive damage. The highway was closed for about 15 minutes as the smoke made it too dangerous to allow vehicles to pass.

The Scotland County Sheriff’s Department wants to remind the motoring public to use caution when approaching the scene of a roadway emergency and allow the responders space and time to safely conduct their operations. Also, be prepared for emergency situations by having adequate winter clothing and blankets in your vehicle in the event you become stranded. The temperature at the time of this incident was -7 degrees real temp with a wind chill of -32. Only a few minutes of exposed skin could lead to serve frostbite and hypothermia. Luckily everyone escaped injury in this incident.