A truck fully loaded with engine oil burst into flames in Shenzhen around 3pm last Thursday, according to the Southern Metropolis Daily, which said nobody was injured thanks to quick thinking from the driver.

The truck ignited by itself as the tires overheated, according to the driver named Mr. Chen.  He tried to douse the flames using mineral water on hand, but it was no use. Eventually the flames grew, igniting the 30 barrels of engine oil he was transporting.  Giving up, he quickly detached the front of the truck with his cargo, sparing himself and his truck.

The driver was unfamiliar with the area and tried to call police, but it took 30 minutes before they and the fire department arrived.  Much of the engine oil flowed onto the Taishan Seaside Highway (Taishan Yanhai Gaosu), causing a major traffic jam.  Firefighters were able to finally douse the flames after about an hour.

Cars were finally able to drive through that section of highway around 6pm, three full hours after the fire broke out.

Fortunately, nobody was hurt.