Propane tank truck fire closes down all lanes of I-5, major traffic delays during commute

The northbound lanes of I-5 remain closed, nearly 12 hours after propane tanks exploded and started a fire.
Crews from ODOT have been on the interstate, between North Skidmore and Going Streets, repaving the damaged roads, since around 10 a.m.
Portland Fire & Rescue says fire crews arrived at the scene around 4:40 Tuesday morning to a large fire, and a semi-truck carrying 120 small propane tanks.
Nicholas Jordan says he heard a loud bang around the same time crews arrived.
“I thought I might have to evacuate, it was so crazy loud and intense,” he said.
“I came down here to realize there was a truck exploding over and over again. I took a little video, then went back because I was like, I don’t want to get hit with a propane tank flying through the air.”
KATU viewer Dakota took a video near Prescott and Mississippi where the blaze can be seen and explosions can be heard.
“One of the cannisters was venting so there were flames shooting out of the trailer,” said Rick Graves, a spokesperson for PF&R.
Graves says the situation quickly got worse.
“In the period of about 15 seconds with the increased number of tanks beginning to pop like popcorn across the freeway,” he said.
Jordan describes what he saw happen next.
“I saw one jump over to the other side of the freeway. It’s gone now but it was on the other side of the freeway,” he said.
“And then just constant bang, bang, bang, bang, bang.”
Graves says one of the tanks exploded and blew into the southbound lanes, prompting a temporary closure of all lanes until about 6 a.m.
“Flew in the air like in a movie,” he said.
“On fire, bounced in the southbound lanes, a southbound tractor trailer hit it and blew it down the road.”
At 5:47 a.m. PF&R provided pictures showing the smoldering, burned-out trailer after the flames had been extinguished.
Graves said fire crews dumped 5,0000 gallons of water on the fire, leaving behind a mess.
“We just cooled it as best as possible and now what we see is the skeleton of the trailer itself and all the cannisters that didn’t explode and pop away from the tractor trailer component,” he said.
Portland Police are investigating the incident.
"While we don’t believe the fire was intentionally set, our detective would like to speak with the driver," said a spokesperson for PPB.
katu.com/news/local/propane-t...
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[@TheCommunicationCoach]

We ALL KNOW just "who" the driver was and where from!!

[@massdebation]

The driver was Ted Wheeler

[@TheCommunicationCoach]

We ALL KNOW just "who" the driver was and where from!!