August 24, 2022 4:00 a.m.

A semi-trailer with Amazon merchandise caught fire early Tuesday morning on Interstate 5 just south of Sutherlin.

Battalion Chief Josh Waechter of Douglas County Fire District No. 2 said Sutherlin Fire Department units responded to the incident just after 3:50 a.m. Waechter said first responders found an active brake fire that was extending into the attached trailer which was filled with an unknown mixed load of items. The fire was initially stopped from spreading and causing more damage.

Crews from DCFD2 were called to the scene as the location was within its response area. Sutherlin FD units cleared the scene as DCFD2’s stayed to watch the trailer while waiting for the arrival of a trooper from Oregon State Police.

Waechter said a hidden pocket of smoldering material eventually ignited causing the fire to spread to the roof of the trailer and to other merchandise. Additional units from DCFD2 and Sutherlin Fire were dispatched to the scene. Together crews worked to contain access to the seat of the fire by cutting a large door sized hole in the side of the trailer. The fire was completely extinguished using water and foam while removing any smoldering material.

4 engines, 2 water tenders, 2 command units and 14 personnel responded to the incident. They were assisted by Oakland Rural Fire District, Oregon State Police, the Oregon Department of Transportation and a heavy wrecker that towed the vehicle off the freeway.

Waechter said travelers on roads and freeways should pay attention to reader boards and flaggers that are working at emergency scenes. He said in this case motorists passing through the area either barely slowed down, or didn’t reduce their speed at all, causing a dangerous situation to be even more hazardous.