FIREWORKS LORRY CATCHES FIRE AND EXPLODES ON TENNESSEE HIGHWAY

A lorry carrying fireworks caught fire on Interstate 75 in Ooltewah, Tennessee, causing the entire load to ignite and explode. Video footage showed a large cloud of sparks and rockets erupting from the trailer as onlookers watched from a nearby overpass. The Tri-Community volunteer fire department confirmed that the trailer was fully loaded with fireworks, all of which became involved in the fire. First responders brought the incident under control and traffic, which had been halted, subsequently resumed.

The Tri-Community volunteer fire department stated that the fireworks were discharging in multiple directions during the incident, posing a risk to other drivers on the road. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire has not been established, and the lorry's destination remains unknown. The department communicated details of the incident via a statement and a Facebook video.

The incident adds to a series of notable lorry accidents in the United States in recent years. In March, 40,000lb of extra-firm tofu was spilled on a road near a small town in Missouri following a separate lorry accident. Last year, firefighters also attended a crash in which a lorry transporting a large quantity of ribeye steaks caught fire. The Tennessee incident occurred ahead of the Fourth of July national holiday.