KULAI: A British man escaped unscathed when his sports utility vehicle caught fire along the North-South Expressway (NSE) near here on Monday (May 16).

       Kulai Fire and Rescue Station acting chief Bahtiar Selamat said the incident took place at KM25.9 southbound on the NSE.

       "The Johor Operations Centre received a distress call at 2.48pm," he said in a statement.

       Bahtiar said one Fire and Rescue Tender vehicle and an Emergency Medical Response Services vehicle were deployed.

       He said eight firemen from the Kulai station were involved in the operation led by senior officer II Mohd Fauzi Che Deris.

       "About 80% of the Singapore-registered vehicle driven by the 34-year old victim, identified as Douglesh Geoffrey Tarrant, was damaged in the fire," said Bahtiar.

       He said firemen used two water hoses from the fire engine to extinguish the flames and the operation ended at 3.16pm.

       The incident is being investigated to determine the cause of the fire and the losses incurred, he added.