Local officials locked down southbound on Interstate 75 in Michigan after a tanker fire on Rouge River bridge. The road has been closed until further notice and clearing operations done.
Authorities found the tanker was empty, but it caught fire early Friday morning while in the middle of the bridge.
Local broadcast WDIV-TV recorded the tanker burning on the bridge, while passengers and the driver escaped the flames. No injury or fatality was recorded.
Diane Cross, Michigan Department of Tourism (MDOT) spokesperson, said both north and southbound were closed while authorities put out the fire. Northbound on Interstate 75 in Michigan was reopened a few hours later, but southbound will be closed the whole day.
Cross suggested to use I-696 to I-94 as an alternate route.
Meanwhile, Detroit police officials are investigating what triggered the fire. There was no indication that the tanker was carrying flammable chemicals since it was empty while crossing the bridge. They are now looking at engine malfunction as a probable cause.
Cross further noted that it was fortunate that the tanker was empty because combustible substances would have caused further damage and might have affected the bridge’s overall structure. In addition to this, wind direction can fan the flames and cause further damage to nearby areas and other vehicles within the vicinity.
Authorities were quick to respond and declared a fire out within a few hours. MDOT crews will need to check the structure of the freeway before reopening the southbound on Interstate 75 in Michigan.
What do you think caused the fire if the tanker was empty? Did the engine break down? Is it an electrical glitch on the tanker? Or could the driver or one of its crew had been smoking and it caused a reaction with the previous content of the tanker?
Police reports will reveal a final report to explain what caused the fire on Rouge River Bridge. Let’s wait and see the results of the investigation.