Tire fire melts parts of semi
Staff writer
The driver of a Kenworth semi escaped injury Friday afternoon after one of the rig’s back tires ignited and burned hot enough to melt aluminum.
“He was lucky not to roll it over or anything,” Marion fire chief Preston Williams said. “You never know with a different kind of trailer, it could have turned into quite an ordeal.”
Roy L. Flowers, 45, of El Dorado was not sure what started the fire, undersheriff David Huntley said.
“All he knew is that he was driving on the road and saw the fire in the back of the trailer so he pulled over,” Huntley said.
Marion and Hillsboro firefighters responded to the blaze, which melted the trailer’s sides and floor, probably damaging it beyond repair, Williams said.
“The trailer had holes in it,” Williams said. “You are not going to haul much with holes in a trailer.”
A stroke of luck for responders was that the trailer was hauling a nonflammable load.
“It was loaded with rock. It wasn’t dynamite at least,” Huntley said.
Williams said firefighters were able to gain control of the fire “in a few minutes,” with no additional mess.
“If it was grain, I would have had to dump it to make sure it was out,” he said.
Sheriff’s deputies assisted with traffic control.