It was about 5:57 p.m. when a car was reportedly on fire in the parking lot between Clark Hall and Myers Hall on Ashland University’s campus.

Cassandra Brown, administrative assistant for the MFA and Creative Writing program, is the owner of the 2002 Buick LeSabre.

“I got in my car to go home and I turned the ignition on,” said Brown. “I heard a popping noise that sounded like something hit my car.”

She called 911 after she went to go start her car, heard a spark and smelled smoke coming from her car. Brown evacuated immediately after smelling the smoke come from her car.

It was then the car blew up in fire and smoke.

Brown contacted 911 first, who then contacted AU’s Safety Services.

“The call came in as a car fire up at AU in the area of Myers Hall,” said captain Ray Miller with the Ashland Fire Department.

“We heard from the dispatch after the owner of the car called 911,” said Fred Todd, a Safety Services worker. “Our protocol is to report to the scene after hearing from the dispatch.”

The cause of the car fire was unsure, although Brown stated her car had been stalling frequently on her recently.

“We won’t know the cause for a while,” said Miller. “I have to contact an investigator to come look at it.”

No one was harmed or hurt, nor were there reports of smoke damage to Myers Hall or any surrounding buildings.