Car Fire on South University Drive: No Injuries Reported

A vehicle fire broke out Sunday evening on South University Drive near the 13th Avenue South intersection, sending plumes of smoke into the sky and briefly shutting down southbound lanes, according to Fargo Fire Department officials.

The incident was reported shortly after 6:30 p.m. local time on September 13, 2026. A sedan was fully engulfed in flames by the time fire crews arrived at the scene. The driver, who has not been identified, managed to exit the vehicle safely and did not require medical attention, authorities confirmed.

Fargo Fire Battalion Chief Mark Jensen said the fire was extinguished within 20 minutes, with crews focusing on preventing the blaze from spreading to nearby vehicles or dry grass along the roadside. No other vehicles were involved, and no injuries were reported.

“The rapid response by our team contained the fire quickly, and the driver’s quick thinking to pull over and evacuate likely prevented a more dangerous situation,” Jensen said in a statement. He added that the cause of the fire is under investigation, though preliminary indications point to a possible mechanical failure.

The fire caused significant delays on South University Drive, one of Fargo’s busiest north-south corridors. For about an hour, the right lane and shoulder of southbound traffic were closed as crews worked to clear debris and remove the charred vehicle. By 8:00 p.m., normal traffic flow had resumed.

Witnesses at the scene described seeing flames shooting from the hood of the car. “I heard a loud pop, then saw smoke pouring out from under the hood,” said Amanda Torres, who was driving behind the vehicle. “The driver pulled over immediately, and within minutes the whole front was on fire. It was terrifying, but I’m glad everyone’s okay.”

The incident comes amid a summer of heightened fire risk across the Red River Valley due to dry conditions. While the fire department did not attribute this blaze to external factors, they reminded residents to keep a fire extinguisher in their vehicles and to have their cars serviced regularly to reduce the risk of mechanical fires.

This is the third vehicle fire reported in Fargo in the past month, according to fire department records. None have resulted in serious injuries. The investigation into this incident is ongoing, and authorities are asking anyone with additional footage or information to contact the Fargo Fire Prevention Bureau.

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