Over the weekend, the Charlotte Fire Department (CFD) responded to a major vehicle fire involving a truck powered by compressed natural gas (CNG), “presenting a unique and potentially hazardous situation.”
The CFD responded to a reported vehicle fire at 10 a.m. on October 19 on North I-77 near Westinghouse Boulevard in Charlotte, North Carolina.
By the time crews arrived, they found a UPS tractor powered by CNG completely engulfed in flames.
“Fortunately, the driver of the tractor detected the issue early, pulling over near the entrance to the rest area on I-77 North before the situation escalated. He exited the vehicle and maintained a safe distance, resulting in no injuries during the incident,” CFD said. “Charlotte Fire commends the driver’s quick thinking, which helped avoid potential harm to other motorists.”
Firefighters say that they took extra care to ensure that the CNG tanks were properly cooled and that the relief valves were functioning properly in order to avoid an explosion.