Car carrier fire destroys 10 vehicles, shuts down I-8 near Telegraph Pass

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - A car carrier hauling nine vehicles caught fire Wednesday evening, shutting down a portion of Interstate 8 (I-8) in Yuma and destroying the entire load.

The fire broke out around 7 p.m. in the westbound lanes near Telegraph Pass in the Foothills.

Emergency crews responded to the scene and worked for hours to contain the flames and clear the roadway.

Authorities said the semi-truck and all nine vehicles it was transporting were destroyed in the fire.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) said the left westbound lanes of I-8 have since reopened, while crews continue clearing the shoulder.

The truck driver said the fire started without warning.

"It's crazy," Jose Medina said. "The truck didn't have any issues. It wasn't smoking. No, the brakes were fine. This truck didn't have no issues. It wasn't overheating, nothing. It's just out of nowhere something blew. And I thought it was a tire. I was sitting in the truck for like five minutes before I heard the next tire, or what I thought was the next tire popping, but something else popped, and that's what made me jump out of the truck and look."

DPS said no injuries have been reported, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.