Multiple vehicles were involved in a fire on southbound Interstate 35 north of Denton Sunday afternoon, shutting down the highway between Rector and Milam roads for an undetermined amount of time and forcing officials to divert traffic onto a secondary farm road. No injuries were reported, according to the Denton Police Department.
Firefighters worked to put out the blaze as crews rerouted cars onto FM 156, according to WFAA. Texas Department of Transportation traffic cameras captured thick smoke rising above the interstate as backups built in both directions, the station reported. Officials had not said by Sunday how long the southbound lanes would remain closed.
The detour sent interstate traffic onto FM 156. WFAA reported that firefighters tackled the vehicle fires. FOX 4 News Dallas-Fort Worth reported that traffic was rerouted toward Krum as crews cleared wreckage and evaluated the roadway. Heavy afternoon delays built up as crews inspected the roadway, the station noted.
A Farm Road Pressed Into Emergency Duty
FM 156 is a North Texas farm-to-market road linking Fort Worth, Ponder and Krum to the interstate near Sanger, according to background compiled by Wikipedia.
Construction projects are also underway on other sections of I-35.
Growth Along the Corridor
Sanger's population was 8,839 in 2020 and 9,703 in 2024. Municipal forecasts project the city could reach 17,000 residents by 2040.
Sunday's fire was not the first major emergency to snarl this exact stretch of road. In April 2025, a multi-vehicle crash on northbound I-35 near Milam Road injured nine people, two critically, and required six ambulances. CBS News reported that the closure duration was unknown and police expected delays for several hours. In a separate incident, two 18-wheelers overturned near Milam Road, one landing on a pickup truck and prompting a southbound closure.
I-35's Troubled Safety Record in North Texas
The corridor's history with vehicle fires runs deeper still. In November 2019, a six-vehicle chain-reaction collision involving a flatbed hauling propane tanks triggered explosions and fires on I-35 near Denton, killing three people and injuring three others, as reported by Truckers News. That crash set off an extensive hazmat response and a prolonged closure.
I-35 has also seen fatal crashes in North Texas. TxDOT runs a dedicated statewide “I-35 Safety Campaign” under its Be Safe. Drive Smart. initiative.
The cause of the collision, the extent of damage to the vehicles, and whether the fire scorched the roadway itself remain open questions as officials continue assessing the scene.
