A fiery spectacle unfolded late last night as a tanker truck carrying 7,800 gallons of gasoline turned into a blaze along Interstate 55 near Mallory Avenue. According to WREG, the incident occurred just before 10 p.m. and promptly led to the closure of the highway. The Memphis Fire Department has since been on the scene, aiming to quell the towering flames and prevent further escalation.
According to Action News 5, a representative from Valero clarified that a tanker truck was on fire, emphasizing that the nearby refinery was not involved. Firefighting crews are still to fully extinguish the fire, as captured on video by TDOT, showcasing a grim scene as flames licked the night sky close to the oil refinery.
Despite the potential for catastrophic outcomes, no injuries have been reported. The Memphis Police Department, noting that the fire resulted from a vehicular incident, responded to the scene at approximately 9:30 p.m., as stated by WREG. The exact series of events leading up to the tanker's overturn and subsequent ignition remain unclear.
Travelers experienced major disruptions due to the fire with Interstate 55 closure extending to late last night. Local Memphis reported that the interstate has since reopened this morning, although emergency crews were still working to manage cleanup efforts around the Mallory Avenue exit. An ambulance was also seen on the scene, while a huge plume of smoke continued to cloud the area well into the night.
