Flames jump into the air after a thousand gallons of fuel catch fire on a Utah highway

Murray • A semitrailer hauling 1,000 gallons of fuel caught fire Thursday evening, closing Interstate-15 in Midvale in both directions.

Lt. Todd Royce of the Utah Highway Patrol said the truck was southbound on the interstate at 7500 South at 7:20 p.m. when a tire caught fire, sending flames toward the tanks.

The main tank was carrying 9,000 gallons of gasoline, Royce said, while a trailer was carrying 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel.

Northbound I-15 was closed at 9000 South, and southbound was closed at 7200 South on Thursday night, and Royce expected them to be shuttered until “the wee hours of the morning.” The Interstate 215 interchange is in that span and was inaccessible, as were surface streets in the area.