CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Interstate 77 northbound at Westinghouse Blvd. near Arrowood Road reopened after a large tractor-trailer fire on Saturday, according to the Charlotte Fire Department.
Drivers were asked to find an alternate route because there were significant traffic delays in the area.
The UPS truck burst into flames around 10 a.m. The fire department said the truck was powered by compressed natural gas, "presenting a unique and potentially hazardous situation."
Crews had to work carefully to avoid a catastrophic explosion while fighting the fire and trying to keep the gas tanks cool.
A cloud of black smoke was visible in the area.
Nobody was hurt because the driver realized the problem early and pulled over away from others.
"Charlotte Fire commends the driver's quick thinking, which helped avoid potential harm to other motorists," the department said.
The Mecklenburg County Environmental Department was called to test for any potential contamination of local storm drains due to runoff from the firefighting efforts. The department said it will also assist in the cleanup process to mitigate any environmental impacts.
The road reopened shortly after 3:30 p.m.
