TUCSON, Ariz. -- Northbound I-19 between Esperanza and Continental has partially reopened, after first-responders extinguished a produce truck that caught fire before midnight Wednesday.
Authorities say the fire started when the semi tractor's rear wheel caught fire and spread to the trailer, full of tomatoes.
Because of where the fire spread, the structural integrity of the trailer is compromised. All the produce is being offloaded into dumpsters.
Traffic on NB I-19 must stay left approaching and passing Esperanza for the next few hours. As of 5 a.m., about half the truck's contents has been offloaded.
Heavy-duty tow trucks are ready to tow the truck away when all the produce has been removed.
Traffic still impacted northbound I-19 just north of Esperanza KM65 as @ArizonaDOT works to clean up after an overnight semi truck fire. No injuries reported. Please use extreme caution. pic.twitter.com/Z4PGWfMCOa
— Official GV Fire PIO (@GVFDPIO) January 9, 2020
