Joliet, IL -In a bizarre overnight incident, a semi-truck carrying 40,000 pounds of celery caught fire on Interstate 80, causing extensive disruptions.
The fire began in the trailer of the semi, which was fully engulfed by the time emergency services arrived at the scene. The westbound lanes of I-80 were closed from 1:30 AM until about 5:30 AM as crews battled the flames.
According to the Joliet Fire Department, multiple units responded to the call, including Tower 6, Engine 7, Squad 6, Troy Tanker 2227, and Channahon Tanker 417. The efforts of these teams prevented the fire from causing further damage or injuries.
The incident, which took place between the Briggs and Hollywood exits, is under investigation to determine its cause. Traffic was restored early this morning, but cleanup operations continued well into the day.
