A G&R Rentals vehicle caught fire at the intersection of Old Highway 51 and South Illinois Avenue at roughly 2:45 p.m. on Thursday. 

James Davis of DeSoto, the lone passenger, was unharmed. 

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Carbondale Assistant Fire Chief Doug Biggs said the fire likely started from chemical-covered rags in the bed of the truck. He said the rags were used for cleaning, but the exact chemical is unknown. 

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Davis, a G&R Rentals employee, said he wanted to get the vehicle out of the area, so he drove to a less-busy area, just before Roxanne Mobile Home Park in Carbondale.

He hoped to get to a garden hose to extinguish the flames, but they spread too quickly.

The vehicle is totaled.

Its windshield was busted, the back left tire was flattened and the interior was mostly melted.

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Firefighters remained on the scene for approximately 30 minutes. Biggs said American Towing would tow the vehicle. 

Aaron Graff can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @Aarongraff_DE