‘What the hell’: Traffic at standstill after car fire rips through Harbour Bridge Tunnel

Traffic has come to a standstill on the Sydney Harbour Bridge after a car caught fire in the tunnel, sending large plumes of smoke through the air and leaving vehicles stuck for kilometres.

The Sydney Harbour Tunnel was closed in both directions after a car caught fire shortly after 8am on Wednesday.

Footage shows large plumes of smoke wafting through the tunnel as drivers are forced to a stop.

Traffic is at a standstill in Sydney after a car caught fire in the Harbour Bridge tunnel, leaving hundreds of vehicles stuck for kilometres.

“What the hell,” one person said as they watched the smoke fill the traffic-congested tunnel.

Sprinklers sprayed water over the car as it crawled past the vehicle, whose bonnet was engulfed in flames.

NSW Fire Service Superintendent Peter Murray told NewsWire a triple-0 call and the automated fire alarm notified firefighters on Wednesday morning.

Five fire trucks were called to the incident, with two trucks making it inside the tunnel.

“Two fire trucks entered the tunnel and using a cross passage from the opposing tunnel were able to locate the vehicle,” he said.

One person was treated by paramedics for smoke inhalation and taken to hospital.

“The vehicle was removed by tunnel operators once the fire was extinguished,” Superintendent Murray told NewsWire.

“The car was severely damaged by the fire. There was extensive traffic disruption as a result.”

The car fire caused enormous congestion in peak-hour traffic, with lines of vehicles stretching back kilometres along the Warringah Freeway in North Sydney.

“Please continue to allow plenty of extra travel time,” a LiveTraffic NSW statement read.