ST. GEORGE — Just before 3 a.m. Thursday, a truck driver reportedly noticed smoke and flames coming from the motor compartment of his semitractor while driving northbound on Interstate 15 near mile marker 22.
The driver quickly pulled over and got out of the truck unharmed, according to a statement posted on the Hurricane Valley Fire & Rescue Facebook page.
The semi truck was carrying produce in a refrigerated trailer. While some smoke did make it inside the trailer, Hurricane Valley Fire and Rescue Capt. Tyler Ames told St. George News that most of the damage was isolated to the refrigeration unit on the front of the trailer.
Ladder 46, Tender 46, Engine 42, Engine 43, and Battalion 41 all responded to this incident, authorities said.
Ames said it is uncommon for five vehicles to respond to a vehicle fire. However, due to the remote location lacking hydrants and the size of the semi, multiple vehicles were needed.
“There’s no hydrants along I-15,” he said. “And so where it was a semi fire, we had to have multiple trucks come just so that we could have enough water to put the fire out.”
Utah Highway Patrol and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office temporarily closed down I-15 while firefighters worked to extinguish the fire. The highway was reopened shortly after.
The cause of the fire is still being investigated.
This report is based on statements from court records, police or other responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.
Photo Gallery
Hurricane Valley Fire and Rescue respond to the scene after a semitractor-trailer catches fire, Leeds, Utah, Feb. 15, 2024 | Photo courtesy of Hurricane Valley Fire and Rescue, St. George News Hurricane Valley Fire and Rescue observe the damage, Feb. 15, 2024 | Photo courtesy Hurricane Valley Fire and Rescue, St. George News Hurricane Valley Fire and Rescue extinguish the flames after a semitractor caught fire, Leeds, Utah, Feb. 15, 2024 | Photo courtesy of Hurricane Valley Fire and Rescue, St. George News Hurricane Valley Fire and Rescue extinguish the flames after a semitractor caught fire, Leeds, Utah, Feb. 15, 2024 | Photo courtesy of Hurricane Valley Fire and Rescue, St. George News
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