A tractor trailer loaded with hot dogs caught fire on I-81 Sunday afternoon.
The driver of the semi reported his brakes were on fire just before 12 Noon on Sunday. The truck pulled to the shoulder near the 25 mile marker and the cab was quickly engulfed in fire. The burning tires and diesel fuel produced a large plume of black smoke, and part of the trailer was also burned. There were no injuries.
The super tanker from the Mosheim Volunteer Fire Department had to swerve off the roadway to avoid a motorists who was stopped in traffic and had suddenly pulled onto the should in front of the fire truck. The tanker went into the grassy area to the right of the interstate and became stuck. The tanker holds around 4,000 gallons of water, weighing over 32,000 pounds. Due to the immense weight, it had to be partially drained before a wrecker from Malone’s Wrecker Service could pull it back to the roadway.
Casper’s Wrecker Service responded with their rotator truck to remove the burned cab of the semi and conduct the environmental cleanup from spilled and burned fuel. Several boxes of burned hot dogs also littered the area. The interstate was completely shut down for over an hour, and cleanup continued until late afternoon.
The Mosheim, Town of Mosheim, and United Volunteer Fire Departments, Greene County EMA, and the Tennessee Highway Patrol responded. Volunteer firemen were able to leave the scene around 4:00 PM while cleanup continued.
