An Emergency Services Agency spokeswoman said the occupant or occupants of the car got out when the saw sparks inside the sedan just after noon.

The fire quickly enveloped the entire car, which was on a side street just off Hindmarsh Drive in Phillip, near the Melrose Drive intersection.

It is not known how many people were inside the vehicle when it caught alight, but nobody required medical attention.

ACT Fire and Rescue extinguished the fire, but the vehicle was completely gutted.

Hindmarsh Drive was reduced to one lane westbound while the scene was cleared.