Fuel Tanker Truck Catches Fire, Closes I-95 in Connecticut

For the second time in a year, a fuel tanker fire has closed significant portions of I-95.

According to the Norwalk Police Department, a petroleum truck caught fire on I-95 near the Fairfield Ave overpass around 5:30 am. Photos on social media show the tanker truck engulfed in flames underneath an overpass, with black smoke billowing over the local road surrounding I-95. I-95 remains closed in the area in both directions, pending a full cleanup and police investigation.

"Both directions of the highway will remain closed as police investigations and structural evaluations of the road and bridge continue," said Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont in a statement on X.

The initial crash involved two commercial vehicles and a passenger vehicle, according to Connecticut State Police. Even so, no serious injuries have been reported, with representatives from the state Department of Transportation as well as the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection on the scene. Federal investigators are also on the scene.

"Our highways team is working closely with Connecticut's DOT on the tanker fire that has closed I-95 in Norwalk," said Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg on X.

In the immediate aftermath, Scott Hill, bureau chief of Engineering and Construction at the Connecticut DOT, told the Hartford Courant that further assessment of the I-95 overpass will be needed before traffic can flow. With such high heat and gasoline involved, Hill said that the steel holding the overpass up could have partially deformed, though he did emphasize that the bridge remains stable.

"There is damage to the bridge, so I want to make sure everybody knows that," Hill said to the Hartford Courant. "But it’s not a collapse issue and the area is safe."

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