This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
All three traffic lanes were open and traffic was back to normal on eastbound Interstate 80 in Parleys Canyon by 7:45 p.m. Saturday, after a semi truck caught fire hours earlier near the East Canyon exit.
The pavement on the third lane was damaged by the fire, but Utah Department of Transportation crews quickly made repairs.
United Fire Authority Capt. Clint Mecham said the 3:30 p.m. truck fire was put out quickly, but not before it caused one of the truck's fuel compartments, called a saddle tank, to rupture and spill diesel fuel over the road.
Although it wasn't known exactly how much fuel was spilled, Mecham said a typical saddle tank can carry up to 150 gallons.
The cause of the fire itself wasn't immediately known, Mecham said.
Sgt. Mary Kay Lucas of the Utah Highway Patrol said the driver of the truck was heading uphill when he noticed smoke coming from the engine. He stopped the truck, woke up a passenger who was in a sleeper compartment, and the two got out before the engine burst into flames.
The two were not injured and neither was anyone else on the highway.
UFA's hazardous materials team responded to clean up the spilled fuel, and UFA investigators responded to help determine the fire's cause, Mecham said.
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