Overheated brakes blamed for morning truck fire along Interstate 80

SIDNEY, NE - Fire officials say a mechanical failure is the cause for a truck fire that occurred Monday morning on Interstate 80 near Sidney. 

Sidney Volunteer Fire Department Chief LaVerne Bown says the semi-truck's brakes overheated, causing the tires and eventually trailer to catch fire. 

Bown says the driver of the truck reported someone in a car flagged him down to make him aware of the blaze before he pulled over. 

Sidney volunteer firefighters responded just before 8:00 a.m. Monday. According to Bown, the trailer was full of a variety of items from candy to TUMS antacids all packed in boxes. 

The trailer was upright when firefighters arrived. After bringing the flames under control, they were forced to tip it over to ensure all of the contents were extinguished. 

The driver was able to safely disconnect his truck from the trailer. No injuries were reported. 

Bown says the trailer is a total loss and estimates there was $35,000-$40,000 in damage caused. 

Westbound I-80 near Exit 55 was reduced to one lane for part of the morning as a result, causing traffic to back up for miles. 

The Sidney Fire Department responded with one engine, two water tankers and eight personnel.