Fireworks Trailer Catches Fire on Tennessee Interstate

A trailer packed with fireworks ignited on a Tennessee interstate Saturday night, sending fireworks soaring across the roadway. This dramatic incident led to a temporary shutdown of traffic as emergency crews rushed to the scene.

Footage from the Chattanooga Fire Department captured the chaos, displaying a trailer engulfed in flames near the Ooltewah exit on northbound Interstate 75, with fireworks erupting and exploding in various directions.

The Chattanooga Fire Department noted in a Facebook post, “We responded to a vehicle fire on Interstate 75 NB past the Ooltewah exit Saturday night. Fireworks were launched in different directions, putting drivers at risk.” Thankfully, despite the hectic scene, there were no reported injuries.

The Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department, which was the lead agency during the incident, revealed that the trailer was filled with fireworks, all of which caught fire, leading to multiple explosions throughout the event.

As a safety measure, authorities briefly closed both directions of Interstate 75 while firefighters worked on extinguishing the blaze. Emergency vehicles had to maneuver through the southbound lanes and used this route to deliver water to crews battling the fire.

Although the southbound lanes reopened fairly quickly, the northbound side remained closed for a longer period while crews monitored the situation and cleared the burned trailer from the road.

Interestingly, a spokesperson from the Chattanooga Fire Department indicated that the incident occurred outside city limits, emphasizing the coordination of multiple fire departments for a successful response.

Videos from the scene showed fireworks lighting up the night sky as traffic was halted at a safe distance from the blaze, with firefighters actively battling the flames. So far, there hasn’t been any information released regarding the fire’s cause.