Car destroyed by fire on Portarlington Rd in Curlewis

A ute has been left on the side of a busy Bellarine road after it went up in flames on Saturday afternoon.

A car went up in flames on Portarlington Rd in Curlewis on Saturday. Picture: Brad Fleet

A ute which went up in flames on a busy Bellarine road on Saturday afternoon is believed to have been caused by a spare battery.

Fire crews were called to Portarlington Rd in Curlewis about 2.30pm and found the car fully alight.

The vehicle’s occupant was able to safely get out of the vehicle and firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze.

A car went up in flames on Portarlington Rd in Curlewis on Saturday. Picture: Brad Fleet

One witness, who did not want to be named, believed the owner of the car had installed a spare battery and that is what caught fire.

At least two fire trucks were called to put out the inferno, which stopped traffic on Saturday afternoon.

Police were also called to the scene but it was deemed not suspicious.

On Monday morning, police tape could be seen around the burnt out vehicle and parts of the exterior had melted off.

Meanwhile a white van dumped on Murradoc Rd, between Drysdale and St Leonards, has also caused concerns.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said the vehicle, which has its license plates stripped, will be collected in due course.

It sits on a dangerous stretch of the rural road with police tape seen surrounding it on Monday.

It’s bonnet has been damaged but a Victorian Police spokeswoman said it was not being treated as suspicious.

Originally published as Car destroyed by fire on Portarlington Rd in Curlewis