Seattle, Washington – One Person Injured in Truck Fire Incident

Seattle, Washington (August 29, 2019) – One person was injured when a semi truck caught on fire on northbound Interstate 5 on Thursday evening. The injured person was taken to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries. No other vehicles were reported to be involved in the incident.

The incident happened around 7 p.m. The truck was heading north when the cab exploded and caught on fire. According to a report from a witness, a former firefighter helped pull the driver from his burning truck. The explosion caused parts of the truck to go onto the southbound lanes of the I-5, while the fire damaged jersey barriers and a light pole. The incident also caused lanes on northbound I-5 to be closed, with traffic getting around through the use of the right lane. However, by a 1.m. all lanes except the HOV lane have been reopened. The cause of the incident has not been reported.

About Vehicle Fire

Vehicle fires are a cause for alarm and can present a very dangerous situation. No matter the cause, all passengers are advised to get as far away from the vehicle when it ignites. The nature of the vehicle and the materials used in it builds potential for big fires and explosions.

To minimize the risk of fires, it is always best to make sure that a vehicle is well-maintained and in good condition. While there are many known causes of car fires, a fire does not always start with just one cause. More often, a number of factors are present when a car fire happens. This makes investigation difficult, but by listing the known causes of car fires, car owners can take the proper steps to analyse their own vehicle’s safety. Some factors do not always directly start the fire but raise the risk for creating it; these factors are design flaws, vehicle neglect, the use of faulty electrical or hybrid batteries, and the spilling or leaking of flammable liquids . On the other hand, factors that can directly cause vehicle fires are car crashes, arson, faulty wiring, and overheating car parts and components. The top two causes for car fires are electrical system failures and leaks in the fuel system. Additionally, one must look over the cargo being carried and make sure there is risk that the cargo can also burst into flames. In identifying these fire risks, one can then properly assess their vehicle to see if any of these risks are present. Like with all fire risks, early detection can help prevent any damage, loss, injuries and fatalities.

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