LAVALE — Interstate 68 east between the Winchester Road and Vocke Road ramps was closed for an extended period Monday evening after a tractor-trailer caught fire, according to an Allegany County Joint Communications Center spokesperson.
Fire department units from LaVale were initially dispatched to the fire just before 5 p.m., but the incident was quickly upgraded, requiring additional fire apparatus to assist, officials said.
Brittni Kaetzel, a Frostburg State University employee, was traveling home after work just after the fire began.
“As people continued to drive by it on the left, I pulled over on the shoulder since it was blocking the exit I needed to use and I saw a small explosion, yet people kept driving by it,” Kaetzel said.
LaVale Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief Kimi Reichert said the explosions were likely the rear tires blowing.
“It appears the fire started with the trailer brakes and rapidly spread into the trailer contents,” Reichert said. “It was a refrigerated truck hauling frozen food.”
Reichert said the operator was able to get the tractor unhooked from the trailer before it was damaged.
“The tractor-trailer was based in Illinois,” Maryland State Police Cpl. Zach Brinkman said.
No operator information was provided by Brinkman.
Units from LaVale, Cumberland, Corriganville, Bowling Green, Cresaptown, Ridgeley and Eastern Garrett fire departments and an EMS supervisor from the Allegany County Department of Emergency Services responded, according to the Joint Communications Center spokesperson.
Brinkman said troopers assisted fire departments with shutting the interstate down at approximately 5 p.m. while firefighting operations were underway.
Reichert said it took approximately 15 firefighters 25 minutes to control the blaze.
“Firefighters had to pull some of the contents from the truck and debris to make sure it was fully extinguished,” Reichert said.
No injuries were reported.
A spokesperson for the Maryland State Highway Administration said in that area there are three lanes, at least one lane was opened at approximately 6 p.m.
All lanes were reopened by midnight.
Reichert reminded motorist to remain aware during emergencies, adding that crews were having trouble accessing the scene because motorists were turning around on the interstate and traveling the wrong direction on ramps.
“You should never go the wrong way on the ramps unless directed to by an official,” Reichert said.