A section of Interstate 81 in Cumberland County was temporarily closed on Tuesday after a tractor-trailer caught fire, disrupting commuter traffic. According to a PennLive report, the southbound lanes near Exit 37, specifically mile marker 37 in Newville, were impacted by the blaze, requiring fire crews to intervene to manage the situation.
According to details from a PennDOT spokeswoman named Fritzi Schreffler, the incident led to the shutdown of all southbound traffic between Exit 44, Route 465/Plainfield, and Exit 37, Route 233/Newville. Schreffler confirmed, as WGAL reported that this shutdown caused significant traffic delays. PennDOT did not provide a specific timeframe for when the roadway would be reopened, so it remained unclear when the interstate would reopen.
No injuries were reported due to the fire, bringing a slight respite in what was otherwise a disruptive event for many motorists. Firefighters were promptly on the scene around 1:15 p.m., and a single lane was reopened to allow cars to navigate the area around the ongoing firefighting efforts.
