Crab Truck Blaze
Truck carrying 34,000 pounds of live crabs catches fire on I-81, two-thirds salvaged.
A tractor-trailer hauling 34,000 pounds of live crabs caught fire on Interstate 81 near Morristown, Tennessee, forcing authorities to shut down an off-ramp, according to MySuncoast. The blaze was traced to a faulty rear trailer brake. No injuries were reported.
The driver acted fast. According to Live 5 News, he managed to detach the cab from the burning trailer before the fire fully engulfed it. That quick move helped save a large portion of the cargo.
Driver Detaches Cab as Trailer Goes Up in Flames
The fire broke out in the rear trailer brake system while the truck was traveling on I-81. WBTV reported that the faulty brake ignited the blaze. The driver recognized the danger quickly and separated the cab from the trailer before the fire spread.
Firefighters responded to the scene and brought the blaze under control. The off-ramp near the incident was closed during the emergency response. WTOC confirmed no one was hurt in the fire.
Two-Thirds of the Live Crabs Were Saved
Despite the fire, most of the cargo survived. WITN reported that two-thirds of the 34,000 pounds of live crabs were salvaged. That comes out to roughly 22,600 pounds of crabs rescued from the scene.
The remaining one-third — about 11,400 pounds — was lost in the fire. It is not yet clear where the crabs were headed or who owned the shipment. Fox 8 noted the driver's quick thinking was key to saving the bulk of the load.
Faulty Brake System Blamed for the Blaze
Investigators pointed to the rear trailer brake as the cause of the fire. Brake fires on tractor-trailers can happen when brakes overheat or malfunction during long hauls. WABI confirmed the faulty brake ignited the trailer in this case.
Brake-related fires are a known risk for heavy commercial trucks. A fully loaded trailer carrying 34,000 pounds puts significant stress on braking systems. Authorities have not said whether the truck had recent safety inspections.
I-81 Off-Ramp Closed During Emergency Response
The fire triggered a temporary closure of a nearby off-ramp on I-81. WNDU reported that the closure affected traffic in the Morristown area while crews worked the scene. It is unclear how long the ramp remained shut.
Morristown sits in eastern Tennessee along a busy stretch of I-81. The highway is a major trucking corridor in the region. Thankfully, the incident did not cause any collisions or secondary accidents.
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