Emergency services were called to the car fire about 11.20 am.

Two pumpers from Ballarat City fire brigade responded to the incident. 

GSRE Real Estate employee Hayley Sandlant was working in an office across the road.

“We didn’t (hear a bang), but there was smoke pouring out everywhere,” she said. 

Ms Sandlant took a few photos on her phone and sent them to the Courier. 

She said there were many onlookers.

Senior station officer Neville Collins said the owner of the vehicle had gone shopping and was not in the car at the time. 

Firefighters brought the fire under control within 10 minutes of arriving at the scene. 

Mr Collins said the fire was believed to have started as a result of a mechanical fault.

The car was towed from the scene.