Houston, Texas news: 18-wheeler carrying fuel catches fire

HOUSTON — Two people were injured and the southbound North Freeway was closed for several hours starting Saturday evening after an 18-wheeler carrying 8,800 gallons of unleaded gasoline caught fire, according to the Houston Fire Department .

It happened shortly before 10 p.m. Saturday on the North Freeway near Tidwell. Southbound lanes were completely closed. We don’t know when they will reopen.

It is not yet clear what led to the fire. Two civilians were transported to area hospitals. HFD said one suffered non-life-threatening injuries, but was unable to provide updates on the other. No firefighters were injured.

A HazMat team was called to the scene and a foam blanket was applied to the fire. Once the fire was extinguished, HFD turned the scene over to the Texas Department of Transportation. The owner of the truck hired a private company HazMat to clean up the scene.

Watch the update given by HFD on scene: