Fire Consumes California Semi Trailer on Oregon Freeway Near Albany

Nobody was hurt when the trailer erupted in flames. Tangent Firefighter Dennis Weis captured the fire in a dramatic series of photographs.

Series of photos by: Dennis Weis/Tangent Fire Department

(SALEM, Ore.) - Fire Departments from Tangent and Albany responded to a semi-trailer fire last night around 8:30 PM. The intense fire ultimately closed the northbound lanes of I-5 just south of Albany at MP 231.

When the 911 call over the truck trailer fire came in to the OSP Dispatch Center in Albany, it was reported that the fire may have started when the trailer's rear tandem brakes overheated.

Dennis Weis with the Tangent Fire Dept says firefighters from his agency and Albany Fire responded to the scene to put the fire out.

The truck's driver, Fingh Gurpreet of California, was able to exit the semi-truck and was not injured in the fire.

The truck was hauling lettuce.

Weis says the fire did major damage to the truck's trailer. "Even the produce boxes inside the trailer were on fire due to the sidewall of the trailer melting away in the fire."

The freeway northbound lane was closed for approximately one hour while crews brought the fire under control.