HALIFAX – Many residents near Truro, Nova Scotia are back home following a tanker truck fire which caused widespread evacuations.
Just after 5 p.m. on Wednesday, the truck, which was heading northbound on Highway 102, caught fire between exits 12 and 13.
WATCH: Raw video of the blaze
Flames could be seen up to 20 kilometres away and thick plumes of black smoke filled the sky.
The truck was carrying about 17,000 litres of furnace oil.
Cpl. Scott MacRae with RCMP said the name of the company, where the truck was coming from and where it was heading to are not being released.
The highway between exits 12 and 14 as well as roads leading to the danger zone were shut down as firefighters and police officers tried to contain the situation, creating headaches for many motorists who were forced to detour.
MacRae said it was necessary due to the volatile situation.
“Anytime we have a potential fire involving explosive liquid fuel or any sort, it is of concern for police and fire,” he said.
“We have a large fire on a truck containing fuel, which is a dangerous situation.”
There were concerns the truck would explode or the fire would spread to a nearby wooded area.
The blaze was so big that firefighters were called in from Truro, Bible Hill, Salmon River and Cobequid to help put it out.
McRae said fire officials put up a half kilometre radius around the scene as a precaution.
The Truro Power Centre, many businesses and a seniors citizens home were evacuated as flames shot through the sky.
Homes along James Street and Abernacki Road were also evacuated, and an evacuation centre was set up at the Cobequid Fire Hall.
Firefighters managed to get close enough to the truck around 9 p.m. to spray it with flame retardant foam and put the blaze out.
MacRae said fire officials and investigators will be taking a close look at the truck to figure out what triggered the fiery situation, which took four hours to get under control.
RCMP say the truck driver was not hurt and there were no other injuries.
Evacuees were allowed back to their homes around 10 p.m.
The southbound lane of the highway was re-opened around 9 p.m.
The Department of Transportation said one northbound lane is expected to re-open around midnight.
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