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H-3 freeway reopened after truck fire

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GOAKAMAI.ORG

A traffic camera image from the Halawa interchange shows firefighters responding to a vehicle fire.

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GOAKAMAI.ORG

A traffic camera image from the Halawa interchange shows firefighters responding to a vehicle fire.

A raging truck fire on the H-3 freeway today closed the Honolulu-bound lanes for about 90 minutes and destroyed a rig that was pulling a 40-foot container of chilled groceries, a Honolulu Fire Department spokesman said.

The fire had already engulfed the truck by the time firefighters arrived near the Salt Lake offramp about 2:20 p.m., said HFD spokesman Kendall Ching.

About 15 firefighters battled the blaze and also mopped up about 9 gallons of oil that spilled from the truck, Ching said.

The blaze burned the truck down to its frame and damaged the front end of the container where the air conditioning units were mounted. No details were available on the damage to the cargo.

Police reopened the freeway about 3:40 p.m.

No one was hurt, and firefighters were investigating the cause.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story said the closure was in the Kaneohe direction.

4 responses to “H-3 freeway reopened after truck fire”

  1. MakaniKai says:

    Okay, but the vehicle is not in the Kaneohe bound lanes. 😮

    It is at the Camp Smith exit.

  2. Dolphin743 says:

    That picture sure looks like the fire is on the Honolulu-bound side, not the Kaneohe-bound side.

  3. buck808 says:

    Google map shows the Ewa Bound lanes closed. Not the other Kaneohe bound.

  4. kuroiwaj says:

    The truck fire was yesterday and was caught in the traffic heading for an appointment in Aiea. Is this another inexperienced truck driver holding his/her breaks down the H-3 grade, similar to tour vehicles on Waimea Canyon Dr. heating their tires, having a flat, than a vehicle fire. When the cause was found, all drivers were instructed to down shift and not use breaks on long grades to eliminate vehicle fires. Let’s see what the cause is. Oh, I made my appointment by 5 minutes because I left home one hour earlier than normal.

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