Westbound lanes of H-1 reopened after $100,000 vehicle fire
The scorched remains of a truck sat on the righthand side of the H-1 eastbound freeway today. (Courtesy Julie Chang)
A traffic camera screenshot showed vehicle lined up before the entrance to the H-1 westbound entrance. (Courtesy Department of Transportation)
A tractor trailer fire that caused $100,000 in damages closed three lanes of the H-1 freeway westbound near the airport this morning, Honolulu Fire Department officials said.
The Honolulu Police Department said the fire was near the Airport Offramp, closing three right lanes shortly after 11 a.m. All lanes were reopened about 2:40 p.m.
HFD responded with two fire companies. The first unit arrived at 11:11 a.m. to find the tractor trailer ablaze.
Firefighters brought the flame under control at 11:16 a.m. and fully extinguished by 11:27 a.m.
Firefighters found that the shipping container contained office supplies, which had ignited from the heat of the tractor fire, HFD spokesman Capt. David Jenkins said in a news release.
Three more companies were sent to provide additional personnel and equipment to extinguish what HFD calls a “deep-seated fire.”
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HFD used cutting tools to open the container to get to the burning contents.
The shipping container fire was extinguished by 1:18 p.m.
The fire remains under investigation, and no cause has been determined.
The damage estimate to the tractor and the contents of the trailer its contents is $100,000, which is considered to be a total loss.
