TAMPA, Fla. – A load of pool heaters went up in flames on Interstate 275 on the morning of July 1, shutting down several lanes of northbound traffic.
The fire started around 11:10 a.m. near milepost 43. A 52-year-old Tampa man was driving a tractor-trailer loaded with the heaters when the cargo suddenly ignited. He managed to steer the truck over to the highway shoulder and safely stop the vehicle.
Fire crews arrived shortly after to put out the flames. The incident forced officials to close down multiple northbound lanes so first responders could safely extinguish the fire and remove the damaged equipment from the roadway.
Nobody was injured in the blaze. Once crews finished clearing the hazard from the shoulder, all lanes of I-275 were opened back up to regular traffic at 12:35 p.m.
READ: Tampa Traffic Alert: Nightly Closures Coming To Busy Westbound I-4 Ramp Next Week
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