ST. JOSEPH COUNTY — A tanker caught fire on the U.S. 20/U.S. 31 Bypass south of the Indiana Toll Road Monday morning.

Police say the driver of the tanker, which was carrying thousands of gallons of unleaded gasoline, reported he heard a loud pop come from one of his tires. When he got out to check to see if everything was all right, he saw the tire was on fire. He says he attempted to put it out with a fire extinguisher, but was unable to.

Dispatch confirmed later Monday morning the fire had been put out and the driver of the truck was uninjured.

Police had blocked off lanes in both directions initially and encouraged people to stay away from the area. Shortly before 1 p.m., the northbound lanes were reopened.

Police confirmed a portion of the U.S. 20/U.S. 31 Bypass in St. Joseph County could be closed for a while, perhaps even a few days, due to damage from Monday morning’s tanker fire.

Asphalt plants are closed Monday for observance of the Labor Day holiday, which may slow the process to reopen the road.

A couple neighbors had damage to their property caused by the heat from the fire.

The vinyl siding melted off one neighbor’s garage and the siding was damaged on another home along Orange Rd, just off Edison.

“When I looked out the patio door, there was a ball of fire out here that you could not believe,” said Jerry Van Dusen, who lives along Sundown Rd. “That thing was 100 feet tall at least! It went straight up, it was a big plume of black smoke, and the fire was just crazy.”

“Then we walked out here when everything was said and done and started looking for damages,” he added. “The shop got it on the back.”

Residents will receive information on the trucking company that owned the tanker so they can submit it to their insurance.

Crews also told residents they will check the well water for any contamination.

Source: WNDU