The southbound lanes of the Pat Bay highway were shut for an hour Friday because of a car fire.

Sidney Fire and Sidney/North Saanich RCMP were called to the highway, just north of Beacon Avenue, around 8:40 a.m. after an older model Volkswagen van burst into flames, RCMP spokesman Cpl. Chris Swain said.

Fourteen firefighters in two trucks attended. They found the van engulfed in flames, which appeared to come from the engine, said Capt. Mike Harman, the incident commander.

Because the Volkswagen's engine was at the back, the gas tank ruptured, making the fire difficult to put out, Harman said.

"We were dealing with a fuel fire for about half an hour until the tank emptied."

The driver, who was travelling alone, was not hurt, Harman said.

Both southbound lanes were closed and traffic was diverted at McDonald Park Road, Swain said.

The incident happened as ferry traffic was coming out of the Swartz Bay terminal, but Swain said there was not a significant traffic back up.

The vehicle, which was destroyed, was towed away.

Watch a video of the burning van