Fire destroys semi unit, shuts down I-94
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ABOVE: FIREFIGHTERS work to extinquish a fire that destroyed a semi tractor and trailer on I-94 near Exit 28 Friday morning, Janaury 17.
—photo by Shawn DeWitt
WILSON — A fire that engulfed and destroyed a semi tractor caused the complete closure of all lanes of traffic along Interstate 94 near Wilson for nearly an hour Friday morning, January 17.
Wisconsin State Troopers and Inspectors from the Eau Claire Post and the St. Croix County Sheriff’s Department along with fire departments from Baldwin, Hammond, Woodville and Spring Valley responded at 10:02 a.m. Friday morning to milepost 28 eastbound of Interstate 94 for a semi unit which was fully engulfed in fire.
The semi, which was pulling a trailer, had burst into flames shortly before the Exit 28 off ramp adjacent to the Kwik Trip store near Wilson.
RIGHT: NOT MUCH remained of the semi tractor and trailer that caught fire in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 94 near the Wilson Exit (#28) last Friday morning, January 17. Fire departments from Baldwin, Woodville, Hammond and Spring Valley battled the inferno which destroyed the vehicle and it’s contents and closed both lanes of traffic for an hour. —photo submitted
The driver of the semi unit was able to exit it and was uninjured.
The semi tractor, which was owned by Contract Transport Services from Green Bay, WI, was a total loss.
The trailer was loaded with paper which needed to be unloaded into the median so the semi unit could be towed from the scene once the fire had been extinguished. The load will remain in the medium until it can be removed at a later date.
The fire resulted in the complete closure of all lanes of I94 at the scene. The westbound lanes were reopened at approximately 11:00 am and the eastbound lanes opened around 2:15 pm.
The cause of the fire is unknown at this time and remains under investigation.
