A Tractor-trailer Carrying Thousands of Gallons of Gasoline Explodes into Massive Inferno on I-95

The raging fire seen from the highway in Connecticut.

Early Thursday morning, a fully loaded tanker truck carrying gasoline collided with a tractor-trailer and erupted into flames on Interstate 95 in Connecticut.

The fire, which closed both sides of the highway, a major route along the East Coast, started around 5 a.m., according to the Hartford Courant.

A tractor-trailer loaded with thousands of gallons of gasoline exploded into a fiery inferno Thursday morning on I-95 in Connecticut.

To add to the travel difficulties for drivers, the affected stretch of the highway is expected to stay closed for the next 2-5 days, as reported by WTNH. The tanker, holding around 8,500 gallons of gas, crashed near Exit 15 by the Fairfield Avenue overpass, involving a truck and a car, as per the Courant.

Governor Ned Lamont mentioned that fortunately, no one suffered serious injuries. However, officials advised drivers to seek alternative routes.

Gov. Ned Lamont said no one was seriously hurt.

Local police, firefighters, along with teams from the state’s transportation department and environmental protection agency, rushed to the scene.

Authorities are still assessing the extent of damage to local utilities and the bridge overpass, Governor Lamont stated. He also informed that he briefed US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg about the incident.

Acknowledging the inconvenience caused, Lamont urged people to avoid the area as much as possible due to severe traffic congestion.

Local hazmat teams and other authorities flocked to the site to clean up the hazardous material, reports said.

The reopening time for the highway remains uncertain. Scott Hill, Engineering and Construction bureau chief at the DOT, explained that an engineer must evaluate the bridge due to the intense heat from the fire possibly warping the steel, as per the Courant.

“There is bridge damage, which everyone should be aware of,” Hill emphasized. “But it's not a collapse concern, and the area is secure.”

Aerial footage shows the remains from the tanker crash and fire on I-95 in Norwalk, Ct

Paul Rizzo, highway operations bureau chief for the DOT, mentioned in a news briefing that they were collaborating with Norwalk city to redirect traffic.

“We've established detours on I-95 to navigate traffic around the incident,” he explained.

Governor Lamont stated that state officials will provide an update on the road's status later in the day.