PHOTO COURTESY OF OSP
The westbound lanes of Interstate 84 about seven miles east of Pendleton were closed Sunday afternoon while firefighters worked to extinguish a commercial truck and trailer fire.
According to Oregon State Police Trooper John Juzeler, a commercial truck pulling a semi-trailer containing frozen chicken was westbound coming off Cabbage Hill on Interstate 84 near milepost 216 when the driver noticed the brakes smoking and on fire around 3:35 p.m. After pulling onto the right shoulder near the base of a freeway onramp, the driver and passenger unsuccessfully tried to put the fire out as it began to spread in the vehicles and the grass median. According to a witness, the vehicles became fully engulfed and diesel tanks exploded.
Umatilla Tribal Fire Department personnel responded to the scene along with the Oregon Department of Transportation.
The fire caused extensive damage and the westbound lanes and on-ramp were closed. At approximately 4:30 p.m., one westbound lane was open to traffic. ODOT was on scene to coordinates vehicle removal which may occurred Monday morning.
The company, estimated load weight, and driver’s name are not available.
