Semi truck destroyed in fire

Ferdinand — A truck driver escaped injury when a Monday afternoon fire destroyed the semi he was driving on Ferdinand’s south side.

Kenneth Burton of Washington pulled the 2005 Freightliner he was driving to the side of Main Street just north of I-64 after dash wiring shorted and caught fire in the cab.

Units of the Ferdinand Volunteer firefighters responded to the fire at about 4:30 p.m. but the semi was engulfed when they arrived on scene at the 400 block of Main Street.

The semi owned by Nancy Baer Trucking was considered a total loss valued at $65,000. The trailer had been emptied just prior to the fire.

The road was reduced to a single lane until a Stork Service Center wrecker was able to remove the semi tractor trailer.