I-44 near Joplin was closed for a brief time yesterday when a tractor-trailer hauling strawberries catches fire and burns.

 

 Reports of a fire near the Rangeline exit on I-44 came in around 7pm last night. Joplin Fire and Joplin Police responded to the call and found a semi-truck that had unhooked from its trailer as the box became engulfed in flames.

 

Fire crew quickly brought the blaze under control, but the trailer – that was full of 30,000 pounds of strawberries – was a complete loss. The driver was uninjured.

 

I-44 was re-opened, but clean-up continued throughout the evening.