Yet another semi-tractor-trailer blaze has triggered a big highway closure in metro Denver.
This one didn’t cause major damage to Interstate 70, but it snarled rush-hour traffic.
Early-morning commuters were detoured onto Colorado Boulevard, said Lt. Mike Somma of the Denver Fire Department.
upd: now closed @ Vasquez Blvd b/c ongoing fire cleanup @ York St;Expect extremely long backups & delays on I-70;alt rte strongly a
— Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) (@ColoradoDOT)
Westbound I-70 was closed at Vasquez while firefighters worked, according to a 6:07 a.m. Denver police tweet. Crews were able to reopen one lane by late morning.
The semi driver reported that a mechanical malfunction triggered the fire, which consumed the trailer, Somma said.
Clean up still in progress on westbound I-70 at Vasquez. Crews have successfully opened one lane!
— Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) (@ColoradoDOT)
Firefighters built a dam to stop diesel fuel from spilling off the road. A hazardous material team is working to clean up the spill, caused when a fuel tank burst, he said.
“It is fortunate it didn’t hit anything else and that no one was injured,” Somma said, referring to the big rig.
Nobody has been injured, according to police.
On May 31, in both directions near the Denver Tech Center.
CDOT employees worked through the night to repair the highway in time for the commute through the Tech Center.
Friday morning’s highway clean-up and hazardous material action will keep I-70 closed for several hours.
“They’re going to be there awhile,” Somma said.
