A fire early Thursday involving two tractor-trailers along Interstate 78 East in Bethlehem Township, Hunterdon County, shut two lanes and backed up traffic as the commute got underway.
The trucks were on the shoulder of the highway and the right and center lanes were closed, according to a report from the scene.
The backup was 10 to 15 minutes following the first call about 4:30 a.m. for the incident west of Exit 11, according to the report and the New Jersey Department of Transportation. The delay had extended to 20 to 25 minutes by 6:15 a.m., the DOT said. By 7:17 a.m., the delay was 50 to 55 minutes, the DOT said. By 8:38 a.m., the delay was 90 minutes, the DOT said. At 12:53 p.m., the delay was down to 30 to 35 minutes, the DOT said.
The Perryville barracks of the New Jersey State Police didn’t initially have any information to release on the incident.
Initial emergency radio calls first said it was a truck fire, then a fire after a crash and finally a fire involving two trucks. The fire wasn’t out as of 6:30 a.m., the report said.
There weren’t initial calls for serious injuries.
Numerous firetrucks and tankers were on the highway.
Freelance photographer Rich Maxwell provided reporting from the scene.
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Tony Rhodin can be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com.
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