Update 5.25pm: State Highway 29 is now reopened since the car fire this afternoon.

Original report, 3.59pm: State Highway 29 over the Kaimai Range is closed after a car became engulfed in flames. 

An 0800 SUNLIVE caller says the car was on the Waikato side of the Kaimai Range in the left lane.

Whilst heading towards Tauranga, the SunLive caller says they passed the car engulfed in flames at 3.05 pm. 

They say the car had burst into flames, and two people were standing safely away from the vehicle. 

Traffic had backed up on SH29, they say.

A police spokesperson says the car fire occurred on State Highway 29 near Hanga Road.

Google Maps screenshot.

“At one point, the southbound lane was closed, but it appears this is about to reopen if it hasn’t already," said the spokesperson.

“There are no reports of injuries.”

A fire and emergency services spokesperson says they received a call regarding a car on fire at 2.38 pm.

They say the car was completely involved in a fire and has since been extinguished.

Three fire trucks attended the scene, and fire and emergency services and police left at 3.45 pm. 

At the scene?

Phone 0800SUNLIVE or email newsroom@thesun.co.nz