PORTLAND, Ore. An intense fire broke out on Interstate 5 near Portland early this week involving a trailer full of propane tanks. The flames caused a series of explosions, leading many to wonder what happened to the truck driver. Here’s a breakdown of the incident and the response that followed.
According to Portland police and the Portland Fire Investigations Unit, the fire started because of a mechanical issue in the trailer’s driver-side wheel area. This means something went wrong with the trailer itself, not because of any criminal activity. The truck driver, whose name has not been shared, reported the problem to their company but did not stay at the scene.
The fire began around 5 a.m. near the North Killingsworth intersection. As flames erupted, the driver managed to disconnect the truck from the burning trailer and drove away leaving the trailer sitting between Skidmore and Going Street near the on ramp. When firefighters arrived, they found the trailer alone and engulfed in flames, with no driver in sight.
As the propane tanks started to heat up, they exploded one after another, causing a lot of noise and danger. Rick Graves, a spokesperson for Portland Fire and Rescue, explained that when the tanks began exploding, it was like “popcorn” going off. This made it too risky for firefighters to get close right away.
To protect everyone, authorities closed all lanes of Interstate 5 while firefighters battled the blaze. It took nearly 5,000 gallons of water to finally put out the fire. This large amount of water was needed because propane fires can be very intense and hard to control.
After the fire was out and it was safe, crews from the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) came in to fix the damaged roadway. They worked overnight to grind and repave the affected part of I-5, allowing the northbound lanes to reopen by Wednesday morning.
While investigators know that the fire started due to a mechanical problem, they are still trying to figure out exactly what went wrong. They do not believe the fire was set on purpose, but understanding the exact cause is important to prevent future incidents.
Following this event, there is a focus on reviewing safety protocols for transporting hazardous materials like propane. Authorities and industry experts will likely look at how to improve safety standards to make sure such incidents don’t happen again.
As Portland recovers from this shocking event, there is relief that no one was injured despite the dramatic explosions and fire. The quick response from emergency services and the efficient road repairs by ODOT showed how prepared the city is to handle emergencies. This incident will be a learning moment for improving safety and response plans in the future. This is a reminder that while propane tanks are generally safe, if they get too hot they can explode.
For more details, you can check out the original report by KOIN TV.
