Trailer fire shuts down portion of Highway 97
By Joshuah Albert
The Dalles, Ore., May 14, 2025 – A commercial trailer fire Tuesday night, May 13, temporarily shut down traffic along Highway 97 near milepost 66, according to Oregon State Police.
Trooper George Economou responded to the scene at approximately 10:16 p.m. after a truck driver noticed flames coming from the rear passenger side of his trailer, which was filled with plant material. The driver, identified as Alejandro M. Lopez Coronado, 31, was able to safely pull over and disconnect the cab before the fire spread.
The incident occurred in a remote area with no immediate fire services available. Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and state police were the only agencies on scene. By the time they arrived, the trailer was fully engulfed in flames and positioned directly beneath high-tension power lines.
No fire crews responded due to the risk posed by the power lines. The power company advised it would dispatch a crew to assess the situation the following morning.
Purdy’s Towing responded to the scene but was unable to recover the trailer until the fire was extinguished. ODOT remained on site for traffic control.
No injuries were reported.
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