FROSTBURG — Eastbound lanes of Interstate 68 were closed Saturday morning for approximately seven hours after a tractor-trailer hauling milk caught fire east of the Clarysville Bridge, according to fire department officials.
“When we arrived on scene, fire was visible directly over the rear axle of the refrigerated box trailer,” Frostburg Fire Department Lt. Nate Olen said.
He said that both engines from Frostburg deployed handlines to begin extinguishing the blaze.
“The fire was out within 15 minutes of arriving,” Olen said. “Units remained on scene for approximately an hour doing overhaul.”
The Allegany County Joint Communications Center began receiving calls reporting a commercial vehicle fire just after 5:30 a.m. east of the Clarysville Bridge in the eastbound lanes, according to a spokesperson.
The Joint Communication Center spokesperson said they were able to use Maryland CHART cameras to see the fire before fire department units arrived.
Twelve firefighters from Frostburg, Shaft, LaVale and Eastern Garrett responded and assisted with operations on the scene.
“We believe it started as a brake fire and spread to the trailer,” Olen said. “An early report was a tire came off the truck and over the hill, starting a small brush fire” that was extinguished.
No injuries were reported.
Olen said that after overhaul was completed, the scene was turned over to Maryland State Police and Maryland State Highway crews for cleanup.
The interstate was slowly reopened to one lane and then completely reopened just after 1 p.m., according to the Joint Communications Center spokesperson.
Todd Bowman is a local and national journalist specializing in public safety news. Follow his work on all social media platforms @ThePeakedT.