A semi-truck caught fire on the eastbound Trans-Canada Highway close to the Oakville junction Thursday evening, leading to traffic delays and sending a big cloud of smoke into the air that could be seen from afar.
Country 93 morning show host Brittany Boschman saw the fire while she was driving home from St. Eustache at around 8 p. m.
A large plume of smoke rises into the evening sky, visible from a distance, after a semi caught fire near the Oakville junction Thursday night. Portage Online/Brittany Boschman
As she got closer to the junction of Highways 1 and 13, she first noticed the smoke and flames.
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“As I got closer, noticed that a semi-truck was on fire. The load had been taken off, and the semi-truck was a little way up on the road away from it, and it looked like the semi driver got out of the vehicle,” mentions Boschman. “When I stopped to take a picture, I could hear some kind of noise coming from the semi. I thought maybe it was going to blow up. I pulled up a little more. I didn’t want to be right across for safety reasons. I didn’t really want to be in that line of fire but was able to grab a couple of photos.”
Traffic Delays as Emergency Services Arrive
Traffic was backed up because another semi blocked one side of the road while drivers stopped and moved over for safety.
The Portage Fire Department received the call around 8:12 p. m., arriving to find the semi fully engulfed in flames.
A semi-truck burns in the eastbound lanes of the Trans-Canada Highway near the Oakville junction Thursday evening. Photo submitted/Portage Fire Department
The eastbound lanes were shut down for about half an hour while crews worked to put out the fire. After getting it under control, traffic was redirected and one lane reopened soon after. A tow truck removed the burned-out truck shortly thereafter.
The area was cleared by around 11 p. m.
Thankfully, no injuries were reported during this incident.
The cause of this fire is still being investigated.
– with files by Maryssa Mc Fadden and Brittany Boschman
Eastbound traffic backed up along the Trans-Canada Highway near the Oakville junction Thursday evening following a semi-truck fire. Portage Online/Brittany Boschman
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