BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. – A fuel truck erupted into flames Friday morning in the northbound lanes of Florida’s Turnpike in west Boynton Beach.
The incident shut down all lanes north of Boynton Beach Boulevard, according to the Florida Highway Patrol, causing traffic backups for miles.
According to WPTV, the fire broke out between Hypoluxo Road and Boynton Beach Boulevard just before 6 a.m.
Palm Beach County Fire Rescue officials confirmed that the driver of the tanker was able to escape prior to the explosion and was not injured.
“The impact of the crash split the tanker open and the fuel was actively burning, sending a large plume of black smoke that could be seen from far away,” the fire department said in an email to Local 10 News. “The semi was carrying approximately 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel and 7,500 gallons of gasoline. The fuel was leaking to both directions of the highway so there were flames on both sides of the Turnpike.”
As a safety precaution, firefighters and troopers temporarily shut down the highway in both directions.
“Firefighters quickly built a dam to contain the fuel and keep the fire from spreading further,” the fire department said. “They attacked the flames with water and foam to blanket and smother the fire. This took some time due to the massive amount of fuel.”
It took 18 units/trucks and dozens of firefighters to extinguish the flames.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Florida Department of Transportation will assess damages caused by the fire.
Travel delays are expected to continue throughout the morning.