YARMOUTH — The driver of a tanker truck carrying 8,000 gallons of diesel fuel escaped injury when a fire started in the engine compartment and destroyed the cab of his tractor-trailer just before noon Wednesday.
The driver, who was not identified by officials and declined an interview, was traveling north on Interstate 295 when he noticed an unusual smell.
He pulled off the highway and into the park-and-ride lot at exit 15 in Yarmouth, said Yarmouth Fire Chief Michael Robitaille. The driver pulled the truck into the back of the lot, far from other vehicles. As soon as he got out of the cab, it burst into flames, Robitaille said.
When firefighters arrived, they immediately began dousing both the flames and the unharmed tank to cool the fuel inside and prevent an explosion.
“Diesel fuel is not as volatile,” Robitaille said. “It takes a lot to get diesel fuel to heat up and explode.”
Had the tanker been full of gasoline, there would have been a greater risk of extensive damage, Robitaille said.
A Maine State Police dispatcher said they were aware of no traffic disruptions on I-295 as a result of the fire.
The tank on the trailer, owned by the Dennis K. Burke fuel company, did not appear to rupture. The cab of the truck was reduced to charred rubble.
Matt Byrne can be reached at 791-6303, or at:
Twitter: MattByrnePPH
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