Semi hauling construction debris catches fire in SLC, reportedly ‘not unusual’

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Crews responded to a fire in a semi-truck trailer on 5070 w California Ave on Friday afternoon.

According to Salt Lake City Fire Department (SLCFD) officials, a truck driver was hauling a semi-truck trailer full of construction debris to the Salt Lake City Landfill. Around 3 p.m., the contents of the trailer caught fire.

Reportedly, the truck driver noticed the fire, pulled to the side of the road, and was able to detach the semi from the trailer quickly. Additionally, he called 911 and SLCFD responded to the scene.

SLCFD briefly closed the surrounding area on California Avenue, while they extinguished the fire. Fortunately, they were able to extinguish the flames quickly. Additionally, no injuries were reported, and the fire was confined to the trailer. A fire investigator is currently looking at the debris to determine what initially caught fire.

However, Brandon Jorgensen, a Battalion Chief with SLCFD, told ABC4 that it is not uncommon for construction debris to spontaneously ignite while it is being hauled. He said, “It’s not unusual for construction debris to auto-ignite in these circumstances.”

Jorgensen also said that the truck driver did the right thing by detaching the trailer and dialing 911. He noted, “removing the tractor from the trailer at least protected the equipment.”

In some cases, though, it may be better to leave the trailer connected until fire crews can respond. Jorgensen said, “Obviously, we wouldn’t want them in danger, to put themselves at risk, to detach the [trailer].”

Ryland Sparrow contributed to this article.