Towed caravan goes up in flames

State Highway 6 was closed by emergency services. Photo / File

A Southland driver had a lucky escape when the caravan they were towing went up in flames earlier today.

The driver noticed it was on fire about midday on State Highway 6, about 2km south of the township of Athol.

Senior sergeant James Ure, of Dunedin, said the driver noticed it was on fire, pulled over and detached it from the vehicle.

"It was a small fire but [then] the whole caravan has gone up," he said.

State Highway 6 was closed by emergency services but police had one lane open about 10 minutes after they arrived. The road was clear about 1pm.

Southern fire communications shift manager Tim Reynolds said the Fire Service was alerted to the fire just after midday.

Crews from Athol and Lumsden attended and put the fire out in minutes.

"It was well-involved when they arrived but they were able to put it out quickly," Mr Reynolds said.

"The fire hadn't spread and no one was injured."

The cause of the fire was unknown, he said.

- Otago Daily Times and NZME