Truck with over 240 propane tanks explodes in St. Lucie Co.

ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — An early morning blaze transformed a stretch of the Florida Turnpike into a chaotic scene as firefighters battled a commercial vehicle fire engulfing a truck loaded with over 240 propane tanks.

The St. Lucie County Fire District said that the fire occurred at 6:05 a.m. Wednesday at mile marker 168 in Fort Pierce, between the Fort Drum Service Plaza and the Port St. Lucie–Fort Pierce Service Plaza on the Florida Turnpike, where a truck was transporting the propane tanks.

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Upon arrival, firefighters reported finding a challenging situation with multiple propane tanks venting and exploding.

In response to the conditions, all lanes of the Florida Turnpike were shut down to ensure the safety of both the firefighters on the scene and passing motorists.