At approximately 2:30 p.m. today a truck owned by Equity 1 Exteriors Inc. of Tallmadge, Ohio, caught on fire while waiting at the Russell Avenue traffic light on state Route 2 in New Martinsville. The truck was southbound, having just exited the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge.

Two Equity 1 Exteriors employees were in the 1988 Ford F-350 gasoline-powered truck when they noticed some smoke coming from the truck’s bed area. The driver jumped out and found flames beneath the truck bed. The two had time to exit the truck and remove some valuables from the cab before the truck was completely engulfed in flames. The truck was a total loss.

The truck was pulling a flat trailer filled with scraps from a roofing job in Ohio. They were on their way to the Wetzel County Landfill.

The New Martinsville Volunteer Fire Department responded to the blaze, as did the West Virginia Division of Highways.

Traffic was stopped in both directions for approximately one hour.