Update:
Bales of hay on a flatbed trailer catching fire…possibly due to spontaneous combustion…closed the northbound lanes of the freeway in College Station for about one hour Thursday afternoon near the Harvey Road exit.
Fire investigators were told the hay was cut green, and as the hay dried that may have generated the heat to ignite the hay.
11 fire units and approximately 20 firefighters were involved in keeping the fire from spreading to a dually truck that was towing the trailer to the truck.
A large tractor was used after the freeway was reopened to break down the hay bales and put out the remaining hotspots.
No was was injured.
Original story:
College Station fire and police responded to a fire Thursday during the noon hour involving a flatbed trailer of hay being towed by a dually pickup.
Thanks to a WTAW listener for sharing a photo of the fire that stopped northbound traffic on the freeway between the Southwest Parkway overpass and the Harvey Road exit.
The trailer fire also ignited a grass fire along the freeway, extending the length of the traffic stoppage to almost one hour.
According to the College Station fire department, firefighters were able to keep the fire from spreading from eight large round bales to the dually.
CSFD says no one was injured. Approximately 20 personnel responded on 11 fire units.
A large tractor was used after the freeway was reopened to break down the hay bales and put out the remaining hotspots.
