A semitrailer hauling 82,000 pounds of radioactive waste dirt burst into flames Thursday morning on Interstate 80 near Tooele, but no one was injured and there was “no threat to the public,” according to the North Tooele Fire District.
The fire was reported at 7:17 a.m. on I−80 westbound at mile post 93. The driver escaped injury, and the fire was extinguished.
The tractor was destroyed, but the fire did not reach the trailer loaded with 40 containers filled with the radioactive material. After a brief shutdown, I−80 reopened in both directions by about 8:17 a.m.