Traffic on US 287 west of Clarendon was disrupted for more than four hours last Thursday, June 27, when a tractor-trailer rig caught on fire near Ashtola.
Clarendon volunteer firemen were dispatched at 5:36 p.m. and arrived at the scene at 5:48 to find the truck fully involved and its cargo of recapped tires ablaze in the outer westbound lane, according to Fire Chief Jeremy Powell.
Traffic in the west bound lanes backed up miles two miles, slowing emergency units getting to the scene. Authorities split the east bound lanes with cones and moved the west bound traffic onto these lanes from County Road 5 to County Road 3 while emergency crews battled the fire. US 287 west bound lanes remained closed until around 10:00 p.m. when emergency and wrecker crews were able to clear the roadway.
The cause of the fire was unavailable at press time. The fire came about one week after another truck caught fire in Clarendon on US 287.
Nine units and 14 firemen responded from the Clarendon Fire Department, Hedley responded with two units and three firemen, and the Donley County EMS had two units and three people on the scene. Also responding were the Donley County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Department of Transportation, and Texas Department of Public Safety. Clarendon Firebelles assisted EMS with firefighter rehab due to hot temperatures.
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