Several cattle killed after commercial vehicle brake fire on I-80, California firefighters say

Firefighters say that multiple animals were killed in a commercial vehicle fire along I-80 in Placer County, California, this week.

CAL FIRE/Placer County Fire Department was dispatched to the scene around 5 p.m. on Monday, February 9, 2026, for a reported commercial vehicle fire near westbound I-80 and Alta.

When firefighters arrived at the scene, they located a truck with a livestock trailer containing 49 cattle “with multiple severely burned/injured.”

Crews responded to the “working brake fire” on the passenger side of the livestock trailer near the rear axle.

Firefighters knocked down the fire before it could spread further and injure more animals.

No injuries were reported for the truck driver.

CAL FIRE reported that multiple cattle died from their injuries.