Tractor trailer fire causes miles-long traffic jam on highway headed to Columbia
A vehicle fire completely blocked one side of a highway heading toward Columbia, causing delays for drivers making the Wednesday morning commute, according to the South Carolina Department of Transportation.
All of the westbound lanes on Interstate 26 were temporarily closed because of a tractor trailer that caught fire, Lexington County officials said.
The fire happened shortly after 7 a.m. at the 130 mile marker on I-26, according to SCDOT. That’s in the Sandy Run/Swansea area of Lexington County, not far from the line with Calhoun County.
As of 9:30 a.m., one of the westbound lanes remained blocked. Just before 1 p.m., SCDOT said all the lanes had reopened.
Information about the cause of the fire, and if any injuries occurred, was not available.
Lexington County officials said the fire was “fully involved, and crews are actively working to put out the flames.”
Vehicles were backed up for at least 4 miles, traffic cameras showed. Even when a lane was reopened, traffic was flowing slowly through the area.
Drivers are asked to avoid the area, if possible. Otherwise, drivers should expect delays.
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
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This story was originally published May 21, 2025 at 9:29 AM with the headline "Tractor trailer fire causes miles-long traffic jam on highway headed to Columbia."
