The northbound lanes of Interstate 295 in Freeport have reopened following a vehicle fire there but traffic remained backed up to mile 13 in Cumberland just after 6 p.m.

State Police Trooper John Kyle said a 2004 GMC Envoy driven by Christopher Jones, 38, of Winthrop, caught fire just before 5 p.m. at mile 19. The sport utility vehicle was destroyed but the boat it was towing, a pleasure boat about 22 feet long, received only minor damage.

The car was engulfed in flames moments after Jones pulled into the breakdown lane. Nobody was injured.

The road was closed for about 25 minutes while emergency crews responded and cleared the scene, but traffic remained bumper-to-bumper for some time afterward, he said.

5:53 p.m.

A car trailing a boat caught fire on Interstate 295 northbound in Freeport leading to a major traffic jam.

The fire broke out at 5 p.m. north of exit 17, blocking traffic so that some motorists pulled off the road and got out of their cars.

There were no reports of injuries and crews were working to clear the highway at 5:25 p.m.


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