40,000 pounds of chicken nearly cooked on I-490
A section of I-490 is back open this morning after a tractor trailer carrying nearly 40,000 pounds of chicken caught fire on the expressway Thursday night.
The Chili Fire Department responded to the emergency and promptly closed I-490 between exits 4 and 5 shortly after 5:50 p.m.
The chicken-filled 18-wheeler, which originated in Mississippi, ignited and was engulfed in flames just a few miles from its intended destination, the Wegmans Distribution Center, in Chili, said Chili Fire Department Chief Kevin Steeves.
The Hazardous Materials Response Team was also called to the scene, to investigate the truck’s ruptured fuel tank, but did not find any imminent issues.
Monroe County fire investigators determined an overheated brake was the cause of the blaze.
The truck, owned by Prime Inc., of Springfield, Mo. was totally engulfed in flames.
The driver, of Greenville, S.C., saw flames and quickly pulled over and exited the truck before it went up, Chili Fire Department Deputy Chief Don Johnson said.
The driver was not injured. His name was not released.
The I-490 location of the fire meant water had to be trucked in to fight it. The Gates, Churchville., and Clifton fire departments, assisted at the scene.
The road remained closed into early Friday morning due to cleanup.
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