Truck Fire Shuts Down Part of Mass Pike

The interchange to Exit 16 still remains closed this afternoon on the Mass Pike westbound as crews work to clean up the scene after an 18-wheeler caught fire this morning.

According to scanner reports, a call for a fully-engulfed truck cab came in around 10:45 a.m. Newton Fire Department and State Police responded to the scene at the Exit 16 off-ramp. Flames were put out around 11:10 a.m., the scanner reported. 

A spokesperson for the State Police said this afternoon the source of the fire was from the truck's saddle tanks, causing around 100 gallons of fuel to spill on the highway. The driver got out safe and no one was taken to the hospital, the spokesman said.

Scanner reports around 11:15 a.m. said the state's Department of Environmental Protection was notified of the fuel spill.

The westbound side of the turnpike was closed between Exit 17 (Newton Corner) and Exit 16 (West Newton) for approximately 30 minutes as crews worked to put out the fire, the State Police said. Traffic was re-routed via Route 16 (Washington Street) in Newton.

As of 12:30 p.m. traffic was severely backed up both on Route 16 and the turnpike westbound.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation Twitter feed, the interchange at Exit 16 was still closed as of 1:38 p.m.