Big-rig Fire Shut Down California Freeway 3 Plus Hours

A big-rig engulfed in flames shut down eastbound lanes of the Foothill Freeway, causing a morning commuter nightmare east of Los Angeles.

It took road crews 31/2 hours to clear away the wreckage and clean up diesel fuel. No one was hurt.

California Highway Patrol Officer Anthony Martin says the tractor-trailer rig jackknifed in the eastbound lanes of State Route 210 in Azusa at 3:54 a.m. Thursday. The driver tried to use an extinguisher to put out the blaze, but flames quickly engulfed the rig hauling potatoes.

Traffic was backed up for miles during the commuter rush. Three eastbound lanes were reopened at 7:20 a.m.