A FedEx truck caught fire last night on US 290, causing all eastbound lanes at Becker to be shut down. The Harris County Sheriff's Office reported the incident happened around midnight, and as a result, the driver was hospitalized with minor injuries. According to Click2Houston, crews have relentlessly worked to contain the fire. However, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez conveyed that the back of the FedEx trailer continued to repeatedly ignite, leading to the prediction that the freeway would stay closed for several hours more.
The congestion extended to several other parts of US 290, with Sheriff Gonzales noting that delays could last for multiple hours both westbound at Becker as well as the 290 Eastbound to the 99 split. Vehicles traveling eastbound were advised to actively seek alternate routes, as reported by ABC13. He added that westbound traffic on US-290 was not hindered and was flowing freely. Meanwhile, eastbound traffic was being detoured, with vehicles permitted to exit at Becker and re-enter the freeway past the fire scene.
No hazardous materials were reported to be inside the FedEx vehicle, easing concerns about potential additional dangers the fire might otherwise present. The sheriff's office has advised drivers to carefully plan their morning commute, taking into account the ongoing road closure and cleanup efforts. Detailed information on the cause of the fire is not clear, but transit and safety officials are investigating the scene.
