Multi-Vehicle Fires Closed I-81: PennDOT (Update; Photos)

At least two vehicles caught fire on Interstate 81 in Central Pennsylvania on Thursday morning.

Interstate reopening following the multi-vehicle fires |(left) and the scene of the fires on the right.
Photo Credit: *PennDOT/511PA*

The West End Fire & Rescue Company on the scene of the multi-vehicle fire on Interstate 81. — The West End Fire & Rescue Company on the scene of the multi-vehicle fire on Interstate 81.
Photo Credit: *Facebook/West End Fire & Rescue Company @wefr15*

12/14/2023 8:47 a.m.

The incident appears to have started when a tractor-trailer attempted to pull on the right shoulder on I-81 near Exit 37: Newville in Penn Township around 6:15 a.m. on Dec. 14, PennDOT spokesperson Fritzi Schreffler told Daily Voice.

As it got into the shoulder it quickly became "engulfed in flames," Schreffler said.

Another car in the shoulder in front of the tractor-trailer also became engulfed, but all the drivers were able to get out of the vehicles and be evaluated by EMS for injuries, West End Fire & Rescue Company explained in the comments of a Facebook post.

It is unknown if anyone was injured as of 8:30 a.m.

The interstate closed south of Carlisle between Exit 37: PA 233 to Newville and Exit 29: PA 174 to King Street, but around 7:40 a.m. the left reopened and the road fully reopened just before 9:30 a.m., according to 511PA.

The burned-out vehicles have been removed.

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