18/July/2018 – Car Carrier Fire – “B” Shift

Incident # 18-04975 – A tractor trailer car carrier was destroyed in an early morning fire on Interstate 95 near the 53 mile marker southbound Wednesday 18-July at 09:31. Engine 1 arrived to find the tractor trailer and five passenger cars well involved with flames and black smoke extending across the highway. They requested additional units and Tenders for water supply. Several small explosions sent debris and air bags flying in all directions. Both southbound lanes of I-95 were closed for approximately 25 minutes until the fire was brought under control. Southbound traffic was rerouted to Sniders Hwy. (SC Hwy 63) until one lane was reopened. Traffic backed up six miles. Crews used multiple handlines to extinguish the fire and four cars were saved. The truck and five cars were destroyed and the car carrier trailer was heavily damaged. No one was injured during the incident. The fire appears to have started due to a problem with wheel or tire. The truck driver pulled to the breakdown lane and attempted to extinguish the fire with a portable fire extinguisher, to no avail. Units were on the scene for two hours. Sheriff’s Deputies and the SC Highway Patrol handled the traffic detour.

Engine 1, Tender 1, Tender 13, Tender 19, Medic 1, Medic 19, Car 105, Car 110 and Car 112 responded. Deputy Chief David Greene served as Incident Commander.