A two-vehicle collision and semi-truck fire shut down the northbound lanes of Interstate 75 in Ocala on Thursday afternoon.
Shortly before 2:55 p.m., Ocala Fire Rescue units (Engines 1, 3, and 4, Rescue 1, Tower 1, Battalion Chief 11, and a Safety Officer) responded to the site of the collision on the interstate, just north of Exit 354.
Upon arrival, crew members found a semi-truck facing the wrong way on the northbound lanes, and its front compartment was fully engulfed in flames. A sedan was also observed on the shoulder of the road, and all northbound lanes were blocked.
According to OFR, the semi-truck appeared to have run through the guardrail while traveling southbound after suffering a front tire blowout.
Crew members assessed the scene for hazards and injuries. After confirming that there were no occupants inside the semi-truck, crews worked on extinguishing the flames.
The fire was smothered using two hose lines, tank water from three fire engines, and approximately 10 gallons of an extinguishing foam.
The Ocala Police Department, Marion County Fire Rescue, and Florida Highway Patrol also responded.