Tractor-Trailer Catches Fire While Traveling on I-95

Traffic was backed up for miles on the New England Thruway (I-95) Monday afternoon after a truck carrying junked vehicles caught fire while traveling northbound on the highway.

The driver stopped the truck between the Harrison Avenue and South Road overpasses in Harrison when he noticed the fire in his rear-view mirror at about 1:30 p.m. By the time he pulled the truck over and reached the source of the fire it had spread and was out of control, according to Harrison Fire Chief Dino Del Signore.

The driver then detached the trailer and drove the cab forward to safety. A move that could have saved his life.

"He did the smart thing," Del Signore said. "He said both (gas) tanks were full and that he just filled up, so that would have been a problem."

The truck was carrying 12 junked vehicles, 10 of which caught fire, according to Del Signore. The fire closed two lanes and backed up traffic for about two hours Monday afternoon.

Firefighters extended a water line nearly 1,000 feet from the South Road overpass to the fire. The truck had to be moved back into the road once the fire was under control because firefighters needed to open the cargo area from the side that was pinned against a guard rail.

"It was hard to get to because it was cars inside the trailer,"said Del Signore.

In total took authorities about 90 minutes to put out the fire. 

"Once we established a water source it was a lot easier to do what we had to do," said Del Signore, adding that water had to be taken directly from trucks while authorities stretched a line down the highway.

Foam was used to soak the entire interior of the trailer and the fire was completely out by 3:15 p.m., said Del Signore. The truck was cleared from the highway about an hour later.

Water and foam used to combat the fire could be seen flowing into a wooded area near Brown Place shortly after the fire was placed under control, but the water did not reach any homes or cause any damage.

The Harrison and Mamaroneck Fire Departments responded to the fire with the Port Chester Fire Department standing by.