SUNNY VALLEY, Ore. (Apr. 20, 2026) — A semi-truck fire along Interstate 5 in southern Oregon on Sunday afternoon spread into nearby vegetation and triggered a large emergency response, officials said.
The fire was reported at about 4:29 p.m. near milepost 74 northbound at Smith Hill Summit. Crews from multiple agencies, including Rural Metro Fire, Wolf Creek Rural Fire Protection District, Glendale Rural Fire District, American Medical Response of Josephine County, the Oregon State Police and the Oregon Department of Transportation, responded to the scene.
Authorities said the fire originated in the truck’s tractor and quickly spread to the trailer and surrounding vegetation, burning approximately one-tenth of an acre.
Efforts to suppress the blaze were complicated by explosions from the truck’s cargo, which included automotive supplies, aerosol cans and cooking seasonings. The materials produced thick, noxious smoke, leading one firefighter to seek treatment at the scene for minor exposure.
Fire crews, along with transportation officials, were able to contain runoff from firefighting efforts, preventing further environmental impact.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
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