A semi-trailer truck towing a tanker with 8,300 gallons of diesel fuel caught fire early today on Hawaii Belt Road (Highway) 19, but firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze before it spread to the flammable cargo.
A semi-trailer truck towing a tanker with 8,300 gallons of diesel fuel caught fire early today on Hawaii Belt Road (Highway) 19, but firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze before it spread to the flammable cargo.
According to a written Fire Department statement, seven units responded to the 3:34 a.m. alarm with the first unit on scene near the highway’s 32-mile marker at 3:47 a.m.
The driver of the truck, which is owned by C and F Trucking, managed to escape uninjured.
The fire completely closed the highway for about 1 1/2 hours, and one lane of traffic was opened at about 5 a.m. Both lanes of traffic reopened at around 7:30 a.m.
The cab of the truck was deemed a total loss, estimated at $40,000, with the trailer and the nearly full tank of diesel fuel saved with minimal damage.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.