A tanker-truck fire closed multiple lanes of Interstate 495 on Friday morning (Feb. 8). At 9:34 a.m., Virginia State Police Trooper T.V. Sullivan was called to the westbound lanes of I-495 near Exit 167 in Fairfax County.
A tanker-truck was traveling west on I-495 when the driver noticed smoke coming from the rear of the vehicles tractor. The driver immediately pulled off onto the right shoulder. The driver attempted to unhitch the tractor from the trailer, but was unable to because of the intensity and spread of the fire.
Once the fire was put out, a Virginia State Police Motor Carrier Trooper inspected the vehicle and determined the fire started in a brake drum in the tractors right rear tandem. The tanker was empty.
The tanker-truck was returning to Virginia from a delivery in Maryland at the time of the fire.
The driver was not injured in the incident. No charges will be placed as the fire was ruled accidental.
Eastbound lanes of I-495 and three lanes on the westbound side were reopened by 11:09 a.m. The remaining westbound lanes were reopened by 12:11 p.m.