Emergency crews rushed to the scene of a car carrier fully engulfed in flames on Highway 97 at 141 Mile House Wednesday afternoon.
Fire Chief Stan McCarthy of the 150 Mile Volunteer Fire Department said his crew responded with three fire trucks and called on the assistance of the Miocene Volunteer Fire Department to bring one more truck to the incident, which occurred at about 3:30 p.m just north of Knife Creek Road.
“When we got there the trailer and vehicles were fully engulfed in flames,” said McCarthy, noting the truck driver had already separated the tractor unit from the trailer and managed to unload some vehicles he was carrying.
“He got his beard singed. We had BC Ambulance look him over but he was alright,” McCarthy said of the truck driver.
“He saved his truck cab and four vehicles. He did an awesome job. I think our fire department did an awesome job too with a small crew.”
The highway was closed to traffic for about a half hour.
Williams Lake Staff Sgt. Del Byron said the tractor unit was owned by MCL McGill Carriers Ltd and had sustained a flat tire and was pulled over to the side of the road when an axle fire ignited. The trailer was carrying nine vehicles, four of which were saved.
Williams Lake RCMP also attended the scene, as did Interior Roads and the Ministry of Highways.