Semi catches fire west of Moorcroft

The Moorcroft Volunteer Fire Department responded to a vehicle fire last Friday at 5:25 p.m. immediately west of town on Highway 51. A locally owned semi tractor/trailer was traveling with a full cargo of gravel when a tire on the trailer caught fire.

Police Chief Bill Bryant answered the page for assistance and reports that, “Basically, the page came out that there was a tire on fire on a trailer. They didn’t say anything else so I was going to run down and try to put it out quickly, [but] when I got there, the trailer was engulfed and the fire warden [Doug Leis] was there.”

According to Fire Chief Rusty Williamson, ten firefighters responded within five minutes with four units including a tender (water truck), two engines and a command vehicle. Pine Haven also attended with one wild land truck.

After five minutes spraying with water, the fire was contained. However, the trailer was consumed by the blaze.

When asked for help, Quality Agg and Construction later sent a front end loader to assist in moving the equipment off the roadway.

There were no injuries due to this fire, but Highway 51 was closed for approximately 45 minutes while the situation was resolved. The problem is believed to have developed because of a bearing failing in a wheel.