By Vernon Robison

Moapa Valley Progress

Traffic in both northbound and southbound lanes of Interstate 15 was closed down for a time at around noon on Wednesday, October 5 when the cab of a semi-truck hauling a belly-dump double tanker burst into flames on the Mormon Mesa near mile marker 95.

At first Nevada Highway Patrol troopers at the scene were unsure of what the cargo of the truck might be, officials said. Fearing that it might be a hazardous material troopers immediately set up an isolation area of about a half mile around the burning vehicle, said NHP spokesman Loy Hixson.

But the truck turned out to be hauling only ready mix cement in dry form, Hixson said. So southbound lanes were re-opened after only about 10 minutes.

Volunteer firefighters from local stations were called to the scene. Because traffic on the northbound lanes was backed up well past the Moapa exit, firefighters travelled north on the closed southbound lanes to get to the scene.

Firefighters from Moapa station 72 and Logandale station 73 were first to arrive on the scene. A fire tender vehicle from station 74 arrived somewhat later to assist.

Clark County Fire Department officials determined that the fire had ignited in the engine compartment of the truck’s cab. The fire destroyed the cab but was not allowed to spread to the trailer.

The fire was extinguished quickly and the northbound lanes were fully re-opened by around 12:35, Hixson said.