SARTELL -- Authorities were called to a car fire early Friday morning.

The incident happened just after 6:15 a.m. north of 17th Street North on 30th Avenue North in Le Sauk Township.

The Stearns County Sheriff's Office says 48-year-old Joseph Sowada, of Albany, was driving a White Dodge Caravan when the vehicle backfired multiple times and began smoking.

When Sowada stopped to check the engine, he noticed a small fire inside, which quickly grew.

The Sartell Fire Department was able to put out the blaze. The fire caused 30th Avenue to be shut down for about an hour and a half.

Sowada was not hurt and the vehicle was deemed a total loss.

More From AM 1240 WJON