LAKESIDE, Calif. (KGTV) - A tanker truck carrying diesel fuel caught fire in the Lakeside area Thursday night, leading to explosions and forcing dozens of residents at a nearby mobile home park to evacuate from their homes.
Authorities said a truck driver was traveling northbound on state Route 67 at about 11 p.m. when he decided to stop because he thought the truck had a flat tire. While stopped at the end of SR-67, the left rear tires ignited, became engulfed in flames and exploded.
Following the explosion, the driver stopped on Mapleview Street, near a mobile home park, but the flames caused another explosion.
As the driver tried to put the fire out with a fire extinguisher, sheriff's deputies arrived to help mobile home residents evacuate and California Highway Patrol officers closed down both sides of SR-67 in the area.
Responding firefighters were able to knock down the truck fire before it spread any further.
The highway was reopened and residents were allowed to return to their homes a short time later.
