PITTSFIELD — A Portland man avoided injury after his car caught fire as he was driving south on Interstate 95 Wednesday morning, according to Maine Department of Public Safety spokesman Stephen McCausland.

Godefroy Watchiba, 41, was driving his 1999 Toyota Camry when he heard a loud noise under his car around 7:30 a.m. McCausland said that around that time, Maine State Police Sgt. Bruce Scott saw Watchiba drive by with flames shooting from underneath his car.

Watchiba quickly pulled over and grabbed a few personal items from the car, McCausland said. Moments later, the vehicle was engulfed in flames.

Pittsfield Fire Department doused the fire. Traffic southbound on I-95 was down to one lane for about an hour, according to McCausland.