Semi cargo fire still smoldering
Staff writer
A tractor-trailer loaded with cardboard continued smoldering Tuesday, more than a day after a blown tire sparked a four-alarm fire on US-50 near Alfalfa Rd.
Florence firefighters returned Tuesday to check the remains, and may have to continue checking them until the tightly packed cardboard is completely extinguished, Marion County emergency management director Marcy Hostetler said.
The fire began around 12:25 p.m. Monday after a tire blew and caught fire. The driver quickly disconnected the tractor from the burning trailer, saving it from the flames. The trailer was destroyed.
Cardboard packed tightly in the trailer held heat much like a burning hay bale, making the fire difficult to extinguish. It was a natural tinder box.
Firefighters spent nearly three hours fighting the blaze, but Hostetler estimated the remains might not be safe to move until Thursday.
Florence, Marion, Peabody, and Cedar Point firefighters, and a single Hillsboro firefighter who happened to be in Florence by chance, responded and kept the fire from spreading beyond the highway right-of-way.
Ambulance attendants remained at the scene because of the heat.
Hostetler handed out 6½ cases of bottled water to firefighters and had to get more from Florence firefighters to keep crews hydrated.
Auto House Towing and Recovery of Galva moved the burned truck and will remove the cardboard once it is completely extinguished.
The fire was the second involving a semi-trailer in less than a week.
A fire on Sept. 2 on K-15 north of 220th Rd. apparently began with either a wheel bearing or brake problem, Hillsboro fire chief Matt Hein said.
Rear axles were too badly burned for firefighters to determine the exact cause.
The driver called for help after noticing the fire.
Auto House employees helped unload cargo from the rear of the trailer, while firefighters extinguished a small amount of remaining fire.
No one was injured, although smoke blowing across K-15 created a visibility hazard.
The trailer was carrying food products.
Marion County ambulance attendants and sheriff’s deputies also responded.