KAUFMAN COUNTY, Texas - A semi-truck carrying thousands of pounds of solar panels was destroyed by fire along Interstate 20 Wednesday night after the driver reported hearing a "loud pop" shortly after refueling.
Semi-truck carrying solar panels fully engulfed on I-20
What we know:
Elmo volunteer firefighters were dispatched to the westbound lanes of I-20 at the FM 429 exit just before 8 p.m. Crews from the College Mound Volunteer Fire Department were called in shortly after as the fire intensified.
Upon arrival, firefighters found the truck's cab fully engulfed, with flames spreading to a third of the trailer. The rig was carrying 44,000 pounds of solar panels at the time.
According to officials, the driver had recently fueled the truck with 200 gallons of diesel. The heat was intense enough to melt the fuel tanks, causing burning diesel to spill onto the roadway. It took crews approximately one hour to extinguish the blaze. No injuries were reported.
Dig deeper:
The driver told FOX 4 he had stopped for fuel about 30 minutes before the fire began. While driving, he heard a loud pop and noticed smoke; by the time he pulled over and exited the vehicle, the bottom of the cab was already on fire.
The Kaufman County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire.
The Source: Information in this article comes from fire officials at the scene of the incident.