Madison Heights got hit with a roadblock Wednesday morning when a semi truck burst into flames on westbound I-696, leading to significant traffic delays. According to ClickOnDetroit, the fire started around 9:45 a.m. at the freeway's border with Warren, causing officials to shut down multiple lanes to tackle the blaze.
The incident initially led to the closure of the westbound entrance ramp from Dequindre Road and all lanes except for the left one. FOX 2 Detroit reported the roadway was restricted for hours. Motorists found themselves in a bottleneck, with traffic squeezing by in the solitary open lane.
Fire crews acted quickly, emptying the truck's contents onto the freeway's shoulder to more effectively fight the fire. Despite the potential for injuries in such incidents, there were reportedly none. BNNBreaking highlighted the swift response from emergency services that averted any harm to the public.
The westbound ramp from Dequindre Road was reopened afternoon, and all lanes of I-696 West followed suit, restoring the flow of traffic to its usual pace. The cause of the semi-truck fire is still under investigation.
