Truck full of cattle catches fire in Arkansas, killing driver’s puppy, officials say

A truck driver’s puppy is dead after his tractor-trailer full of cattle caught fire in Arkansas on Wednesday, police say.

It was just after 4 a.m. when Ozark Fire Department responded to a call about a semi fire on the interstate, officials said in a Facebook post. The truck was full of cattle.

Fire officials say the blaze appeared to start in the truck’s engine compartment, crediting an easterly wind from preventing the flames and smoke from spreading to the trailer. The driver and the cattle all survived.

Less lucky was the driver’s Blue Heeler puppy who died in the blaze, officials say.

“The driver stated the fire spread quickly which kept him from being able to reach the dog,” officials wrote.

Photos of the truck, which was heading to Texas, show the front end of the cab charred, melted and still smoking.

The fire prompted the closing of the two westbound lanes of I-40 for half an hour, officials say. Crews left the scene just after 6:30 a.m..

This story was originally published November 6, 2019 at 4:08 PM with the headline "Truck full of cattle catches fire in Arkansas, killing driver’s puppy, officials say."