CAR CARRIER FIRE CLOSES I-95

Old Lyme — All lanes of Interstate 95 near Exit 70 reopened Sunday afternoon after a fire and possibly an explosion aboard a tractor-trailer carrying nine cars closed all but one of the southbound lanes of the highway for several hours.

Police said the highway reopened about 6 p.m. Sunday, more than six hours after a tractor-trailer carrying nine cars caught fire about 11:15 a.m. in a southbound lane.

The fire caused a severe backup up the southbound side of the highway Sunday afternoon as smoke billowed from behind the truck’s cab.

No one was injured, police said. Five of the cars and the tractor-trailer’s cab appeared to have been damaged by the fire, and witnesses reported hearing an explosion.

The tractor-trailer and all of the cars were cleared from the scene by 5 p.m.

DANA JENSEN/THE DAY A tractor trailer car carrier caught fire Sunday on Interstate 95 south at Exit 70 in Old Lyme. The highway was closed for several hours.

DANA JENSEN/THE DAY Drivers on I-95 can only wait Sunday as the tractor-trailer fire is handled. The view is from the Whippoorwill Road overpass at the Old Lyme Exit 70 half-mile sign. See a video at www.theday.com.