SINGAPORE - A silver Mercedes was seen ablaze on Bukit Timah Road, near Dalvey Estate, on Sunday evening at around 7.30pm.

Madam Kim Leow, who is in her 40s, was passing by in a car with her husband and son when they saw a plume of smoke.

"When we approached we saw the car on fire, it was so scary," she said. "I felt the other cars should have been redirected because if the fire caught the oil tank it might have exploded."

A spokesman from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said no one was injured. It sent two fire engines to the scene and put out the engine compartment fire with one water jet.

The spokesman added that the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

SCDF advised motorists to keep a fire extinguisher in their vehicles, as vehicle fires can spread quickly because of the presence of flammable materials.

If smoke starts to appear from a vehicle, the driver should pull over safely to the side of the road, turn off the ignition and evacuate everyone from the vehicle.

Vehicles should be serviced regularly such that the electrical, engine and fuel systems are working well, and there is no sign of oil leakage.