A semi-trailer was destroyed in a fire that broke out along the back axle while the truck was traveling southbound on I-57 at mile marker 106 ten miles south of Salem on Saturday afternoon.
Kell Fire Chief Lonnie McDaneld says the driver for Martin Transportation Systems of Opelika, Alabama was able to disconnect the cab from the trailer to prevent it from getting involved in the fire. The fire was across the back of the trailer, burning into the bed of the truck and all of the rear tires.
McDaneld says the truck was hauling Gatorade Drink which remained intact and was not damaged.
The truck was on the side of the road, but Kell Firemen blocked southbound traffic during the firefighting effort because the smoke was too thick to see through.
The fire call came in at 2:26 Saturday afternoon. Firemen were on the scene for about two hours and 15 minutes. Southbound traffic was stopped for about 30 minutes.
Salem Firemen stood by at the Kell Fire Station n the event of another fire.
