Truck fire brings Interstate 70 to a halt east of Columbia; affects Highway 63

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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A semi-truck fire Tuesday afternoon caused Interstate 70 traffic to slow to a standstill near Columbia.

And after it the eastbound lanes were closed for several hours, officials warned that northbound 63 traffic was also backing up. Meanwhile, Columbia Public Schools said in a text message to parents and guardians at about 4:30 p.m. that the backup was causing some buses to run late or change the order of their stops.

All lanes had reopened by 5 p.m.

Emergency dispatchers and first responders warned drivers about the fire and the resulting congestion at mile marker 133, a few miles east of Columbia, at about 2 p.m.. The Boone County Fire Protection District said the fire and response will cause "significant delays."

@BooneCountyFire and @Columbia_Fire units are currently on scene of a large commercial vehicle fire on Interstate 70 Eastbound at mile marker 133. Expect significant traffic delays. pic.twitter.com/RHRd16uXfr

— Boone County Fire (@BooneCountyFire) November 22, 2022

Boone County emergency dispatchers said in a public alert that the eastbound lanes were closed and would be until further notice. The highway patrol later said westbound lanes were also closed because the fire was spreading to the north but a reporter at the scene said westbound traffic was flowing at about 2 p.m.

A fire district spokesman said shortly after 2 p.m. that the fire had been extinguished.

Traffic was being diverted at the St. Charles Road exit.

Dispatchers sent another alert a little before 4 p.m. saying the miles-long backup was also affecting northbound Highway 63 at the I-70 connector.

Details about how the fire started and whether anyone was hurt were not immediately available but photos shared online by the Missouri State Highway Patrol showed apples in the burnt remains of the trailer.

Check back for updates to this developing story.