Investigators were unable to determine the cause of the fire, but believe it could have started in the trailer’s refrigeration unit. The unit is mounted on the front of the trailer, in the gap between the tractor and the trailer.
The truck had been parked for the night by the driver and was unattended when the fire started. Flaherty said it is customary for drivers to leave the refrigeration unit running while parked in order to keep the contents of the trailer fresh.
Seventh Street was closed for three hours due to hoses in the roadway and the cleanup from the fire. The remains of the rig and the heavily damaged contents were removed by an agent for the owners.
