A tractor trailer caught fire and shut down eastbound Interstate 8 for nearly 8 hours.
The fire was reported shortly after 11:00 a.m. Tuesday on eastbound Interstate 8 at the bottom of Mountain Springs grade near Ocotillo. The big rig , loaded with an estimated 70,000 pounds of clothing , was completely engulfed in flames and blocked both lanes of the freeway. The California Highway Patrol stopped traffic in the area of In-Ko_Pah while Imperial County Fire Department crews attempted to douse the flames. At the In-Ko-Pah closure , another big rig failed to stop and plowed into several other vehicles adding to the problems. The closure remained in effect until about 4:45 p.m. when the Highway Patrol was able to get one lane open and escort traffic down the grade. The second eastbound lane was reopened shortly after 7:00 p.m. At one time traffic was reported backed up to Jacumba. The cause of the accidents remains under investigation.