WEST AMWELL TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Hunterdon County) — A vehicle fire involving an electric vehicle caused significant traffic delays on Route 202 during the Monday evening rush hour in West Amwell Township, according to the West Amwell Fire Company.
Emergency crews were dispatched at approximately 5:26 p.m. to the area of mile marker 4 on Route 202 for a reported vehicle fire. Upon arrival, responding police officers found the vehicle fully engulfed in flames.
Firefighters began suppression efforts and later identified the vehicle as a Nissan Ariya electric vehicle. Officials said crews were able to extinguish the fire before the vehicle’s battery system entered thermal runaway, a dangerous condition in which batteries can rapidly overheat and reignite.
Approximately 1,000 gallons of water were used to extinguish the fire and cool the battery system before the vehicle was removed from the scene.
The Hunterdon County Hazardous Materials Team and the county Board of Health were notified as a precaution.
The incident caused significant traffic backups along Route 202 during the evening commute. The West Amwell Police Department assisted with traffic control while firefighters worked at the scene.
No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire was not immediately available.
All emergency units cleared the scene at approximately 7 p.m.
