Massive Fire Causes Collapse of Interstate I-95 in Philadelphia, Disrupting Traffic and Prompting Safety Concerns

A section of Interstate 95 in northeast Philadelphia collapsed early Sunday morning after a tanker truck, believed to be carrying gasoline, caught fire. The incident, which occurred at around 6:20 a.m., forced the closure of the highway in both directions, leaving officials scrambling to find alternative routes for the estimated 160,000 vehicles that use this busy stretch daily.
The fire began when a tanker driver was on an off-ramp of Route I-95 North and an accident or other incident caused a blaze beneath the overhead highway lanes, according to Brad Rudolph, a spokesman for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. “That structure quickly collapsed with the heat of the fire as big as it was,” he said, adding that the southbound structure was also shut down as it was compromised by the fire.
At a news conference on Sunday afternoon, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro confirmed that at least one vehicle remained trapped beneath the collapsed roadway. Officials are still working to identify any individuals who may have been caught in the fire and the subsequent collapse.

Authorities are now assessing their options for easing the commute on Monday morning and managing the significant traffic disruptions expected to persist for weeks to come.
Describing the scene on the highway as one of “remarkable devastation,” Pennsylvania Governor Tom Shapiro expressed his gratitude that no motorists on I-95 were injured or killed. The northbound section of the interstate had completely collapsed, while the southbound side was deemed structurally unsound. Shapiro estimates that it will likely take several months for the highway to be repaired.
To expedite the repair process, Shapiro plans to issue a disaster declaration on Monday. He has received assurances from Federal Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg that all necessary resources will be provided.

The cause of the fire, which led to the highway’s collapse, is still under investigation. However, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation spokesman Mr. Rudolph stated that nothing thus far suggests it was intentional. The fire occurred on the ramp from Route I-95 North to Cottman Avenue, which extends outward and then passes beneath the highway.
“It seems like it was a vehicle accident,” said Rudolph. “That ramp can be tricky if you’re going at a high rate of speed.”
The National Transportation Safety Board has announced via Twitter that they are sending a team to conduct a safety investigation into the incident.
Philadelphia’s Office of Emergency Management Director, Dominick Mireles, expressed concerns about potential environmental impacts following a fire and collapse near the Delaware River during a recent news conference. The affected area runs parallel to a damaged section of the highway and includes auto shops, construction companies, and Four Seasons Total Landscaping – the site of a 2020 news conference held by then-President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer, Rudolph W. Giuliani.

The Philadelphia Water Department, which relies on the Delaware River for part of its water supply, assured residents that there was no impact on water quality as of Sunday afternoon. In an official statement, the department noted that its staff is actively monitoring the situation and collaborating with other emergency response agencies.
In response to the incident, all lanes of Route I-95 between the Woodhaven and Aramingo exits were closed on Sunday afternoon, along with several nearby streets. The city of Philadelphia issued a news release urging commuters to prepare alternative routes for their weekday commutes and to consider using public transportation. State and local agencies are working on establishing detours, including routes on Pennsylvania Route 63, Interstate 676, and U.S. Route 1.
Leslie Richards, the general manager of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, announced during the Sunday afternoon news conference that additional cars would be added to scheduled trains to accommodate increased ridership. Furthermore, free parking will be provided at three stations to encourage the use of public transportation during this time.

In the wake of a major highway fire that has caused significant damage to an overpass, officials are urging the public to exercise patience and caution during the upcoming repair process. “This is an emergency that has created a tremendous challenge for our transportation network,” said Ms. Richards, a spokesperson for the local authorities. “We are all going to need some extra patience in the coming days.”
Thomas Gernay, an assistant professor of engineering at Johns Hopkins University, explained that the repair of similarly damaged roadways has taken several weeks in the past. Gernay also warned that even parts of the overpass that appear to be intact could be compromised. Unlike buildings, which are typically outfitted with sprinkler systems and other fire protection measures, outdoor highways remain vulnerable to fires. “We are in an unlucky situation where the fire occurs just underneath a structure,” Gernay said.
This latest incident follows a series of similar events in recent years. In April, a section of Interstate 95 in Connecticut was closed after a fuel tanker crash on a major bridge. The resulting explosion claimed one life and spilled home heating oil into the Thames River, according to officials. In 2017, a part of Interstate 85 in Atlanta collapsed due to a fire. The contractor responsible for replacing the damaged roadway, C.W. Matthews, reported that it took 44 days of uninterrupted work to complete the repairs.