A semi trailer caught fire while the truck was traveling southbound on I-57 about two miles north of Kinmundy.
Kinmundy-Alma Fire Chief Kevin Day says the driver was able to pull onto the shoulder of the highway and disconnect the cab to prevent the fire from spreading to it.
Day reports the fire started underneath the trailer and likely was caused by a mechanical problem. The truck was fully enveloped in flames when the fire department arrived around 2:50 Wednesday morning. The Salem Fire Protection District was called for mutual aid to bring another tanker of water.
After the visible fire was knocked down, the trailer continued to smoke due to the contents inside still being hot or on fire. The trailer was then unloaded of the burned boxes to put out the rest of the fire.
The blaze burned off the back end of the truck including the wheels requiring Landers Towing to take the trailer apart before it could be moved.
I-57 southbound was closed from the Farina to Kinmundy exit for about four hours. As of late Wednesday morning, only the passing lane is open around the scene of the fire.
