4657 Block of US 59 (a couple of miles north of the Livingston City Limits) at 1:30 am...
18 Wheeler Hauling Lumber Catches Fire, LIVINGSTON, September 2, 2016 - At approximately 1:30 am on September 2, 2016, an 18 wheeler driven by Lawrence Hill, 53, of Manville, Louisiana, was south-bound in the 4657 block of US-59 (a couple of miles north of the Livingston City Limits) when he noticed in his mirror that his truck was smoking. Hill pulled over to the right shoulder. Evidence suggests that one of his wheels got too hot and caught fire. Livingston Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to the scene along with Corporal Adam Norris and Deputy Michaela Tinsley with the Polk County Sheriff's Office, and Trooper Chris Cain with the Texas Highway Patrol. The trailer was loaded with 2x6 lumber. The interior of the rig, the tires, and the lumber all caught fire. Firemen were able to get the fire completely out in about 30 minutes. The burning bundled lumber made the job all the more difficult. Fortunately, nobody was injured in the incident. All traffic on the south-bound side of 59 was blocked. At time of press, 3:30 am, a heavy duty wrecker from Riley Wrecker Service out of Corrigan is cleaning up the mess.
53 year old Lawrence Hill, of Mannville, Louisiana stands next to Livingston Fire Chief, Corky Cochran at the scene.
The rig's load of 2x6s complicated the situation.
Accident investigator, Trooper Chris Cain speaks with Hill.
Cooper the Fire Dog had everything under control.
Mixi and Heidi were on duty for PolkCountyToday.com.
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