A truck caught fire on the Bay Bridge during Thursday morning rush hour, sending large, visible clouds of dark smoke into the air and halting all traffic heading into San Francisco.
Crews quickly extinguished the fire, which sparked after a propane tank on the truck exploded, California Highway Patrol Spokesman Mark Andrews confirmed to KCBS Radio.
All traffic traveling westbound on the bridge just east of Fremont St. was completely shut down briefly before the left three lanes reopened once crews got a handle of the fire. Caltrans closed the two right-most lanes until the early afternoon while inspectors determined possible damage to the roadway. All lanes were open again by approximately 1 p.m.
The incident caused a severe backup on I-80 into the early afternoon, both on the bridge and in the East Bay. Traffic finally cleared to normal levels shortly after all lanes reopened.
"I can see folks getting out of their vehicles, taking photos, trying to see what's going on," KCBS Radio's Tim Johns, who was stuck in the backup, said before the lanes reopened. "It is just solid gridlock as far back as my rearview mirror can see."
No injuries were reported and the blaze was not a threat to the public, according to the San Francisco Fire Department.
🚨🚨#BAYBRIDGE🚨🚨
— Victor “Big Daddy” Zaragoza (@BigDaddyZSports) August 19, 2021
Avoid the Bay Bridge Hwy 80 westbound coming into San Francisco due to a truck fire carrying propane tanks that exploded! The Bridge is closed and no estimated time on when it will open! Use The Golden Gate or San Mateo Bridge as an alternate! #KCBSTraffic pic.twitter.com/NOh6mb79Db
