A tractor trailer fire caused a big traffic problem on Interstate 24 eastbound in Clarksville, Tennessee, on Thursday morning, July 24, 2025.

What happened: Around 9 a.m. near mile marker 15.8, a semi truck blew a tire. Parts of the tire hit a sedan, pushing it in front of the truck. The trucker hit the brakes hard to avoid a crash, but that set the back wheels on fire.

• The trailer, full of parts for heavy-duty plastic brooms, quickly caught fire.
• The driver acted fast, unhooking the burning trailer before the flames spread to the truck.
• By the time firefighters arrived, the trailer was fully engulfed. Crews even brought in a backhoe to help flip it and fight the fire.

“It was another challenge working with gear on a fire in the summer heat on black asphalt,” said Montgomery County Fire Service Chief Michael Rios. Multiple fire stations, the county highway department, and EMS worked together to handle the scene, according to Clarksville Now.

Traffic impact: Thick smoke and fire forced traffic to back up for miles past Exit 4, with slowdowns into the afternoon while crews cleaned up and cleared the area.

Thankfully, the sedan was not seriously damaged, and no one was hurt in the incident.