A tractor-trailer carrying thousands of gallons of fuel caught fire on Interstate 91 in Wethersfield on Friday morning, leading to both sides of the highway being shut down.
Emergency crews responded to the blaze on I-91 North in the area of Exit 24 at 7:42 a.m. and found that the cab of the vehicle was fully engulfed in flames, according to Connecticut State Police.
The driver was able to escape the cab and get safely away from the tractor-trailer, which was hauling 7,500 gallons of fuel, state police said. The driver was not injured.
The highway was shut down while crews from the Wethersfield and Rocky Hill Fire Departments responded to put out the blaze. The closure affected both sides of I-91 as well as oncoming traffic from Route 3 to I-91 South.
State police said they worked quickly to clear nearby drivers from the area because of the hazard the situation created.
According to Rocky Hill Fire Chief Michael P. Garrahy, firefighters from Wethersfield were first at the scene and “quickly and efficiently controlled the fire,” while Rocky Hill crews provided support.
The southbound side of the highway re-opened after the blaze was put out, according to state police. The left two lanes of I-91 North were later re-opened as authorities were still on scene.
Crews from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and the Department of Transportation responded to the scene. The state police Fire and Explosives Investigation Unit also responded to assist with the investigation.
Garrahy said a hazardous materials mitigation contractor was also called to respond.
