A Massive Truck Fire Is Causing Major Traffic Delays On The QEW This Morning (VIDEO)
Drivers traveling eastbound on the QEW should expect a delay on Thursday morning. Throughout the morning, emergency crews have been responding to a transport truck fire on the east highway of the QEW just after Burloak. All Toronto bound lanes were blocked, and thick black smoke was spotted billowing from the vehicle. The Fort Erie bound HOV was also blocked. Those traveling on the road are reporting poor visibility due to the smoke.
Drivers are being told to expect delays and to attempt to find an alternative route. Oakville firefighters are on scene battling the flames. According to OPP, Sgt. Kerry Schmidt, all lane eastbound should be reopening shortly.
Photos and videos of the incident have begun popping up on social media. In the footage, hundreds of vehicles can be seen backed up as black smoke billows onto the highway.
The smoke coming from the truck is so thick that its impossible to see further up the roadway. However, more recent footage of the fire does appear to show the flames decreasing in size.
While the accident is still causing horrific delays, The OPP has reported that at 11:15 a.m. that the QEW's two right lanes had reopened. However, the Fort Erie bound HOV and left lanes are to remain closed.
VEHICLE FIRE: #QEW Toronto bound after Burloak #Oakville: HOV and left lane blocked. #OPP to attend, @oakvillefire… https://t.co/KVUUbeVCDI— OPP GTA Traffic (@OPP GTA Traffic) 1571927002.0
@oakvillefire UPDATE: VEHICLE FIRE: #QEW Toronto bound after Burloak #Oakville: All lanes blocked. Fort Erie bound… https://t.co/nRSKWLXHn8— OPP GTA Traffic (@OPP GTA Traffic) 1571927296.0
Five people were sent to the hospital with minor injuries as a result of the incident, and an investigation is ongoing.
Truck Fire❌📍Qew burloak . #hwy401 #401 #sarpanch #toronto #brampton #mississauga https://t.co/Kd6rPHuMBA— 401_da_sarpanch (@401_da_sarpanch) 1571930681.0
Update: 5 people to hospital with minor injuries. Clean up ongoing, could be several more hours. 2 right lanes open… https://t.co/MOWaic1eje— OPP Highway Safety Division (@OPP Highway Safety Division) 1571930591.0
The fire is the second to wreak havoc on the QEW east this week. A tractor-trailer backed up traffic after it became engulfed in flames near Burloak Drive on Wednesday.
According to Inside Halton, Oakville firefighter reported that the tractor was “fully involved” with flames and black smoke surrounding the vehicle. The incident occurred around 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday evening, mere hours before the following truck fire.
Anyone with any information on either incident is being asked to contact the OPP at 905-278-6131.
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