Truck full of toys catches fire in Garland
GARLAND, Texas - An 18-wheeler carrying a load of toys caught fire early Thursday morning on Interstate 30 in Garland.
The fire started around 4 a.m. on eastbound I-30 between Northwest Drive and Broadway Boulevard. The driver said he heard a loud pop and looked back to see flames shooting out of the right side of his trailer.
The truck driver was able to pull over and get out safely. He tried to tackle the flames with a fire extinguisher, but they were too intense. He then unhooked his tractor and drove it away from the trailer.
The trailer was loaded with 20,000 pounds of building toys. It was engulfed in flames by the time firefighters arrived.
The firefighters decided to let the load burn up. Once the flames died down, they used a backhoe to break open trailer and begin cleaning up.
The cleanup is expected to take several hours. Commuters are encouraged to take an alternative route and avoid the area.