TRAFFIC ADVISORY: I-15 backed up in Virgin River Gorge due to vehicle fire, Highway 91 suggested

Written by Josh Warburton

Reports of a vehicle fire and subsequent lane closure took place on Interstate 15 today in the Virgin River Gorge, according to an email sent from Raul Garcia, Public information Officer with the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

“DPS received a report of a vehicle fire southbound along I-15 at milepost 12.6 at approximately 12:54 p.m. A few minutes later the the report described a commercial truck-tractor pulling a semi-trailer with a tire fire. At 1:00 p.m. another report described that the fire was spreading. DPS was on-scene at approximately 1:00 p.m. Beaver Dam Fire Department arrived on-scene to mitigate the fire at approximately 1:08 p.m. At this point the truck-tractor and semi-trailer were on fire. Southbound I15 was closed at approximately 1:08 p.m. By 1:26 p.m. traffic was backed up to Cedar Pocket. Traffic lane #1 (left lane) was opened at 1:52 p.m. Traffic lane #2 was reopened at 3:34 p.m. The semi-trailer was loaded with paper and various other types of merchandise.”

As of 4:03 local (Arizona) time traffic is backed up approximately four miles and may increase as commercial vehicle traffic has just been released from the port of entry. Old Highway 91 is the only alternate route around the Virgin River Gorge and is being suggested for use by Garcia.

According to Mesquite, Nevada Fire Department, the truck’s fuel tanks were ruptured at some point for a currently undetermined reason and that is what caused the fire. Mesquite, Nevada Fire Department assisted at the accident. No injuries were reported.