All Lanes Open on I-270 South After Vehicle Fire

Update, 4:50 p.m.:  Maryland State Highway Administration reports all southbound lanes on I-270 have been re-opened. Some backups persist near I-495 beltway as traffic continues to clear from earlier lane closures.

Update, 4:00 p.m.:  Maryland State Highway Administration reports all southbound lanes on I-270 should re-open in approximately 30 mins., according to spokesperson Troy King.  

King says debris pickup from the earlier crash is nearly complete.  The contents of the trailer which had caught fire were off-loaded onto the highway and are being removed.  The trailer was carrying produce, King said.

Backups remain from incident and will likely persist after lanes reopen as traffic continues to clear from the lane closures.  Stay tuned to Patch for updates.

Update, 3:40 p.m.: Only one lane is open on I-270 South between Old Georgetown Road and I-495 East after a truck from the Salvation Army and its trailer caught fire Wednesday afternoon.

All southbound lanes were closed temporarily, but one lane was reopened at 3:20 p.m., said Beth Anne Nesselt, a spokesperson with Montgomery County Fire and Rescue.

Around 2 p.m., Montgomery County Fire and Rescue responded to calls of a trailer that was smoking while it was being pulled by a pick-up truck on I-270 South. The driver got out of the vehicle and attempted to take the smoking trailer off of the truck, but was unsuccessful, Nesselt said.

Fire and Rescue extinguished the truck and trailer and no injuries have been reported.

All lanes are expected to be opened by about 4 p.m., Nesselt said. Traffic delays will continue as crews come in to clean up and remove debris, she added.