Semi Truck Fully Loaded With Beer Erupts in Flames on Interstate 95 in Maine

It was a wild scene Monday night on Maine's Interstate 95 for police and fire officials alike.

According to a press release from Shannon Moss, Spokeswoman for the Maine Department of Public Safety, the incident happened at about 7 p.m. Monday in the southbound lanes of Interstate 95 near Island Falls, Maine.

She reported that an 18-wheeler that was loaded with beer experienced a tire blowout which caused a fire to ignite in the back of the trailer. The driver of the truck, 23-year-old Sahil Pal of Dieppe, New Brunswick, and his passenger pulled the truck over to the side of the road and attempted to put the fire out themselves with an on-board fire extinguisher.

The pair was unable to put the flames out and the fire quickly engulfed the entire trailer of beer. While the trailer was burning, the driver was able to detach the tractor from the trailer and pull it away before the fire made it all the way to the front of the trailer.

Moss said that both the Oakfield and Island Falls Fire Departments responded to the scene at about mile marker 277 southbound. The fire crews were successfully able to extinguish the blaze.

She went on to say that the Interstate was shut down in the area for about two hours while officials worked to clean and clear the scene of the fire.

Moss indicated that besides the two fire departments and the Maine State Police, Maine DOT and Westerdahls Towing also responded to provide aid.