A garbage truck erupted in flames Thursday on Interstate 10 in Cabazon, burning tons of refuse and prompting a lane closure.
The non-injury blaze was reported at 9:15 a.m. Thursday on westbound I-10, near the Morongo Trail exit ramp, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The agency said the Burrtec truck caught fire while traveling in the slow lane, but there was no immediate explanation regarding what might have ignited the flames.
The driver got out of the vehicle before it was consumed.
Riverside County Fire Department crews arrived minutes later and quickly contained the blaze, though the truck’s contents continued to pose a hazard because of the different waste materials still smoldering, officials said.
The estimated 32,000 pounds of charred trash was removed from the truck for disposal at another location.
CHP officers shut down the freeway’s slow lane at Morongo Trail for public safety.
A SigAlert was issued at 9:50 a.m. because of the closure and impact on westbound traffic.
The closure was expected to be lifted early Thursday afternoon.
The cause of the fire was under investigation.