RAPID RIVER - A semi-truck is a total loss after catching fire near Rapid River. State police say the fire happened this morning at about 5:40 on US-2 approximately 1-mile south of Rapid River.
Troopers say the driver, 56 year old Robert Lustila of Germfask, heard a loud bang and stepped out of the truck to investigate.
He saw 4-foot flames coming out of the chimney and then from under the hood. He was unable to re-enter the truck to get a fire extinguisher due to the smoke and flames. Lustila was not injured in the incident.
The vehicle was a total loss. The load of logs the truck was transporting was loaded onto another rig.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Due to the fire, traffic on US-2 was re-routed via Bay Shore Drive for about 3-hours… and a load of salt was applied to the road due to the frozen water and foam used to extinguish the fire.
