By Christine Lavelle
FIREFIGHTERS were called to an incident on the M8 today (Sun) when a car was spotted up in flames.
The Saab Convertible was well alight when the firefighters arrived at the scene on the east-bound carriageway near Livingston, at around 12.45pm.
Three high pressure hose reels and two breathing apparatus were used to extinguish the fire.
A passing police officer spotted the flames and immediately stopped the traffic as a precaution because of the thick black smoke.
The blaze was out within the hour, but the incident had caused delays on the motorway heading into Edinburgh.
The driver of the vehicle escaped unhurt and did not require any medical assistance.
A Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue spokeswoman said: “We got the call at 12.38pm to attend a car which was well alight on the M8 east-bound carriageway.
“A police officer from the Lothian and Borders force was passing and raised the alarm when he noticed the thick smoke.
“He stopped the traffic as a precaution but the road has been re-opened.
“The cause of the fire is still being investigated.
“The driver of the car was out of the vehicle and no one was hurt in the incident.”
