It took fire departments from two states to put out a semitrailer fire near Beulah, Wyoming, on Interstate 90 near the border with South Dakota on Tuesday afternoon.
The Crook County Volunteer Fire Department was assisted by the Spearfish Fire Department from Spearfish, South Dakota, and together they successfully extinguished the fire.
Wyoming Highway Patrol Lt. Tim Boumeester said the semitrailer driver was hauling an enclosed band trailer west when he noticed smoke billowing from the underside of the trailer. That’s when his quick thinking kept a bad situation from exploding into something worse.
“When he pulled over to the side, the fire had already broken out on the trailer,” Boumeester said. “The driver was able to disconnect the tractor from the trailer and move it farther to the west.”
By that time, the fire had completely engulfed the trailer, and Douglas resident Daniel Ratzlaff was driving eastward on I-90 when he passed the scene, which was hard to miss.
“You could see the smoke from over 20 miles away,” he said.
Fire crews from Crook County, Wyoming, and Spearfish, South Dakota, worked together to put out this semitrailer fire on Interstate 90 near Beulah, Wyoming, close to the South Dakota border. (Courtesy Spearfish Fire Department) 
Fire crews from Crook County, Wyoming, and Spearfish, South Dakota, worked together to put out this semitrailer fire on Interstate 90 near Beulah, Wyoming, close to the South Dakota border. (Courtesy Spearfish Fire Department) 
Smoke from this fully-involved semitrailer fire on Interstate 90 near the South Dakota border was visible for 20 miles, said trucker Daniel Ratzlaff. (Courtesy Daniel Ratzlaff) 
Smoke from this fully-involved semitrailer fire on Interstate 90 near the South Dakota border was visible for 20 miles, said trucker Daniel Ratzlaff. (Courtesy Daniel Ratzlaff) 
Smoke from this fully-involved semitrailer fire on Interstate 90 near the South Dakota border was visible for 20 miles, said trucker Daniel Ratzlaff. (Courtesy Daniel Ratzlaff)
Probably A Wheel Hub
Recognizing the intensity of the blaze, the Crook County Volunteer Fire called the Spearfish Fire Department for assistance, which is only 20 miles from Beulah.
The Spearfish Fire Department dispatched one engine and two water tenders to Crook County, and shortly after they arrived the fire was contained and then extinguished.
No injuries were reported, but the trailer was a total loss.
The cause of the fire is unknown. Boumeester said a preliminary assessment suggests it was caused by one of the trailer’s wheel hubs.
“One of the wheel bearings or the wheel hub on one of the trailer axles went out, causing the heat,” he said. “Then it overheated and caught fire.”
Traffic was temporarily rerouted from the Beulah exit to the I-90 service road. Drivers were able to get back on I-90 at milepost 199.
It Happens
While not necessarily common, semitrailers catching fire along Wyoming’s vast stretches of interstates also isn’t uncommon, and many times the cause are overheating around the wheels or brakes.
On the opposite end of the state, Uinta County Fire and Ambulance responded to a “fully involved” semitrailer fire at milepost 48 on westbound I-80 on Jan. 21. There also were no injuries in that fire, but the trailer was a total loss.
Andrew Rossi can be reached at arossi@cowboystatedaily.com.
