Shredded tire causes brush fire, traffic delays on I-15 near Cedar City

Firefighters fight a fire along Interstate 15, Cedar City, Utah, Sept. 9, 2018 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News

CEDAR CITY — A brush fire along northbound Interstate 15 in Cedar City caused minor traffic delays while Cedar City Fire Department firefighters put out the fire Sunday evening.

Read more: Fire along roadway affecting traffic on I-15 in Cedar City

Chief Mike Phillips said the fire was likely caused by a vehicle tire that came apart; hot debris started the fire around 7 p.m. Traffic was reduced to one lane while firefighters tended to the fire.

“It happens all the time,” he said of the shredded tire.

He did not know what vehicle may have lost the tire and started the fire near mile marker 58.

The brief fire burned roadside brush and weeds and no structures were affected, Phillips said.

Crews put down the fire in about a half hour and completed the mop-up duties in about another hour, he said.

“Traffic wasn’t affected that much,” Phillips said even though one lane was briefly shut down to allow fire trucks access to the brush fire.

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