Commercial vehicle fire closed Highway 17 near Nairn Centre for hours

Highway 17 west of Sudbury, near Nairn Centre, was closed for several hours Wednesday after a commercial vehicle caught fire.

A disabled vehicle led to the closure of Highway 17 near Nairn Centre for several hours Wednesday, according to the Ministry of Transportation website.

The 511 Traveller Information Service said the highway was closed in both directions at Worthington Road beginning shortly before 9 a.m., the roadway reopened shortly after 2:15 p.m.

Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said in a news release, on Monday, that the initial call came in at about 8:15 a.m.

Greater Sudbury Fire Services attended the scene with OPP, Deputy Fire Chief Jesse Oshell said in a message to CTV News.

“OPP closed the highway in both directions for safety and to allow fire services the ability to extinguish the fire,” he said.

Fire officials told CTV News that the fire appears to have started at the rear wheels of the transport truck.

“The driver of the CMV (commercial motor vehicle) noticed smoke coming from the vehicle and discovered that a tire was on fire, which quickly spread to the rest of the vehicle,” said police.

“The cargo of steel was not affected,” said Oshell.

“(The) fire was contained to the rear of the transport and no fuel spill or contamination occurred.”

Fire officials said crews were on scene from approximately 8:45 a.m. until 11 a.m. with OPP remaining with the vehicle after the fire was extinguished to arrange for the site to be cleared.

No injuries were reported as a result of the incident.