Fire Damages Semi on Interstate South of Effingham

Firefighters were phoned by the driver of the semi just after 10pm. The driver indicated the brakes on his trailer were on fire, and that he was hauling a load of hay.

First-arriving firefighters reported a box trailer along the shoulder of the roadway with heavy smoke showing from the rear of the trailer. The semi driver was able to disconnect from the trailer before firefighters reached the scene, preventing the fire from spreading to the tractor of the semi.

Fire crews made access to the rear of the trailer, which was fully loaded with square hay bales. The fire was concentrated in the load above the trailer tires on the passenger side. Crews cut an access hole in the passenger side of the trailer above the wheels to assist in extinguishing the fire. Crews unloaded approximately 150 bales of hay by hand in order to completely extinguish the fire.

The fire originated in the right side front trailer axle wheel/tire area. An examination determined a mechanical failure with the air bag suspension system on the trailer caused the trailer to come into contact with the right, front trailer tire. The extended rubbing of the tire on the underside of the trailer started a fire in the floor of the trailer.

A local tow agency removed the trailer from the scene. Watson firefighters cleared the scene approximately three hours after the time of the call. Shumway Fire Protection District provided an engine to cover the Watson station in case of another fire call and Illinois State Police assisted with traffic control.

There were no injuries to any firefighters or civilians.