Thick black smoke could be seen above west Winnipeg Tuesday evening after a vehicle caught fire.

The fire started on the Perimeter Highway near Assiniboia Downs and Red River Exhibition Park around 7:30 p.m.

One witness told CTV an SUV caught fire and exploded.

RCMP and Headingley fire officials have yet to release information about what happened or if anyone was injured.

Witnesses said it appeared everyone escaped prior to the explosion.