Second Semi Truck Fire On I-94 This Week Resulted In Shutdown

RACINE COUNTY, WI — For the second time this week, a semi truck caught fire on I-94 in Racine County.

Racine County Sheriff's officials say a deputy on patrol just after 1 a.m. Friday was on I-94 near Highway G when they saw a semi-trailer on fire as it was driving south on the interstate.

Sheriff's officials said the driver of the semi pulled over at Highway G. At that point, the rear of the semi-trailer quickly became fully engulfed in flames.

>> Semi Truck Carrying Buckets Of Caramel Caught Fire On I-94

According to sheriff's officials, the deputy pulled over next to the flaming semi , and alerted the driver, who was unaware that his trailer was on fire.

The semi driver escaped the flaming semi truck, was removed to safety and was not injured, according to sheriff's officials.

The semi was carrying aluminum casting for car parts, sheriff's officials said.

Southbound lanes of I-94 were completely shut down for about four hours while the fire was extinguished, and the heavily damaged semi-trailer was removed.

As of 6 a.m. the interstate was back open, according to the highway department.

Investigators say the semi fire appeared to have been started in the rear axles of the semi-trailer due to a mechanical problem.

On Wednesday, a semi carrying buckets of caramel caught fire just down the road from Friday's semi fire. In that incident, buckets of sticky, gooey caramel had to be scraped off the Highway K off ramp after the semi-trailer caught fire.