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SALT LAKE CITY — A semitrailer caught fire and closed the I-15 northbound ramp to I-80 west in Salt Lake City for about six hours Thursday morning.
Team drivers from California told troopers they noticed one of their semitrailer's tires was on fire around 2:40 a.m. They pulled over near the I-80 west off ramp and exited the vehicle.
The fire quickly spread to the trailer, which was packed with wood furniture, and then to the cab where the drivers sleep.
Flames were shooting out of the truck when firefighters arrived.
"I could see the truck over on the shoulder and flames were starting to engulf the whole truck," said UHP trooper Broderick.
The blaze burned up all the furniture in the truck, causing black smoke to fill the air.
Because of freezing temperatures, crews decided not to douse the flames with water. Instead they called the Utah Department of Transportation and used UDOT's brine solution on the fire to prevent a build-up of ice on I-15.
UDOT plows removed water that made its way across lanes of traffic. One lane was closed as well as the ramp to I-80 west, which leads to the Salt Lake International Airport. The ramp reopened around 8:20 a.m.
