A truck driver survived a mishap on Highway 99 in which his trailer and load was engulfed in flames Thursday evening March 12.

Traffic, local firefighters and law enforcement were tied up for at least an hour.

According to the California Highway Patrol, Surinder Singh, 32, of Fresno, was driving northbound in the slow lane of the freeway when his 2022 Volvo tractor pulling a 55-foot-long refrigeration trailer became unhitched. The trailer slid along and caused the fire. Nothing was flammable inside the trailer, the CHP said. Food items were strewn about the freeway.

Singh was not injured.

Two fire engines and a battalion chief were on scene in minutes and found a fully involved trailer carrying freight. Two water tenders were called, one of them from Westport Fire Department. Crews spent close to an hour to contain the fire due to the amount of freight and a couple hours performing overhaul.

Caltrans assisted in removing the trailer contents to expedite the fire overhaul process and remove the product from the roadway. Once the incident was mitigated all fire resources cleared but Caltrans and the CHP remained for a time.

Early in the incident, Ceres Police assisted with traffic control and provided liaison with Ceres Public Works.