Route 201 Traffic Between JC and Vestal Slowed by Car Fire

Johnson City firefighters battled a raging blaze that consumed a vehicle on the heavily-traveled Route 201 heading toward Vestal.

The fire engulfed a car in the southbound lanes of the roadway over Main Street. The blaze was reported shortly before 8:30 a.m. Monday.

Johnson City police were assisted by the state Department of Transportation in directing traffic around the raging fire.

The driver of the burning car managed to get out of the vehicle before emergency crews arrived at the scene.

Thick black smoke from the fire was visible from the Vestal Parkway south of the Susquehanna River.

No injuries were reported as a result of the blaze. Fire investigators were called to Route 201 before the vehicle was towed away.

Although rush-hour traffic was slowed for about an hour, one southbound lane of the roadway was kept open during fire department operations.

No information was immediately available from the police or fire departments about the  specific circumstances surrounding the car fire.

WNBF NEWS VIDEO: A view of the Route 201 vehicle fire as seen from Main Street on January 5, 2026.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com or call (607) 545-2250. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.