Burning Produce Trailer Shuts Interstate

A Semi trailer fire shut down I-25 north of Casper Tuesday evening.  Natrona County Fire Investigator Dave Baker says the 53 foot refrigerator truck full of apples was  engulfed in flames when fire firefighters arrived. Fortunately, Baker says, the quick actions of the driver prevented further damage..

"the operator of the tractor trailer was able to disconnect the semi from the trailer and move it to a safe distance. The semi was a hauling a load of produce south on I-25 toward Colorado.  Due to the construction type of the trailer, and also the cargo inside, it hampered fire crews efforts to actually get inside and put the fire out."

Baker says the fire was caused by an over heated tire and rim started burning  underneath and spread to the refrigeration unit. While no injuries were reported damage was extensive. He says firefighting operations closed the interstate  for nearly two hours.

"We delayed some people. We had smoke drifting across the highway and we had to make the scene safe for our fire crews to actually extinguish the fire."