I-80 semi-truck fire ignites electric vehicles

The North Summit Fire Service District responded to a semi-truck fire on I-80 om May 14, 2024. Photo: North Summit Fire Service District

SUMMIT COUNTY, Utah — A semi-truck carrying multiple cars caught fire on I-80 Tuesday afternoon, resulting in multiple small brush fires and the loss of several vehicles.

According to a statement from the Evanston Fire Department, crews from Evanston, as well as the North Summit Fire Service District, were dispatched to a vehicle fire at milepost 185 on I-80 in Summit County at approximately 2:30 p.m.

A semi-truck had experienced a wheel bearing failure, and three of the cars it was hauling, two of them electric vehicles, were lost in the subsequent fire.

“A total of 8 units responded from Uinta County along with 4 from Summit County as a lot of water is required to deal with electric vehicle fires,” said a statement from the Evanston Fire Department.

According to a statement from the North Summit Fire Service District, exploding battery banks from the burned electric vehicles started two small brush fires along the side of the road, which were put out.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.