Cardboard fire snarls Valley freeways

By Megan Martin, For the Tribune
February 29, 2008

Two lanes of westbound Loop 202 are now open in Tempe following an intense cardboard fire.
A tractor-trailer carrying more than 70,000 pounds of compacted cardboard burst into flames while traveling westbound at approximately 9:35 a.m. Friday at the Scottsdale Road on-ramp.
Fire officials said the driver saw smoke rising from the uncovered cargo and was able to drive the truck out of traffic. The driver then detached the truck from the trailer and drove the truck about 30 feet from the flames.
The reason for the blaze is still under investigation, but Tempe fire spokesman Mike Reichling said a discarded cigarette butt from another vehicle could be to blame.
The company which owns the trailer told the Tempe Fire Department that there have been at least two similar incidents in the past in which cigarette butts were the cause.
“Tossing cigarettes out of windows is not only littering, it can be dangerous,” Reichling said.
Firefighters from at least four cities surrounding the blaze responded to the blaze, including Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe and Scottsdale.
Tensions began to rise almost two hours after the blaze started, when it was discovered that there were possibly two 500-pound propane tanks in a storage area on the burning trailer.
“Even though the tanks were thought to be empty, all precautions needed to be taken,” said Sgt. Ann FitzGerald of the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
FitzGerald said for the safety of firefighters and the public, a 200-foot perimeter was set up, closing all lanes of westbound traffic.
At approximately 11:30 A.M., ADOT had been cleared to open the HOV lane, followed by the lane next to it, for traffic. Traffic had been ushered off the freeway at the Scottsdale Road exit and was not permitted to enter the freeway as far back as McClintock Road.
Traffic could be seen at a standstill as far back as Dobson, and cars were parked on the Loop 202 on-ramp in both directions of Loop 101.
“Surprisingly, we’ve had no accidents reported,” FitzGerald said of the increased attention and hazards created.
Traffic is expected to be restricted for hours, as the fire is still being extinguished, followed by a heavy clean-up.
Further restrictions may apply if the freeway is in need of patching, due to damages from the intense flames, according to DPS.
Traffic was unrestricted in the east-bound lanes, but did experience a slow down near the fire from curiosity.

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