“First thing I saw people saying was like, ‘I-95 #2,’ which would have been a problem,” added Matthew Craven.
Many said that this fire reminded them of the incident on June 11, when a tanker fire caused a portion of I-95 in Philadelphia to collapse and close in both directions.
However, the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge was only closed for about three hours as firefighters stopped the tractor-trailer from smoking and reigniting.
Officials said the truck was carrying a large amount of tires when it caught fire.
“We had a bridge closure, but we also have a lot of people who are safe,” said Pennsylvania State Representative Joe Hohenstein. “That’s the big message, especially with what happened to 95.”
It is unclear how the blaze began, but officials say they are using surveillance video to determine its cause.
“There’s a lot of cameras here, both by the bridge authority and by some private businesses,” said Philadelphia City Council Member Mike Driscoll. “So let’s hope we find the perpetrator or perpetrators and bring them to justice.”
Local leaders also said they have been communicating with Homeland Security, and they will bring up this incident in order to find the best solutions to protect roadways and be vigilant of what is stored near bridges and major highways.