The Grand Portage Fire Department was paged to the U.S. – Canadian border crossing at Pigeon River at 2:37 p.m. on Monday, August 24 to assist with a semitrailer with “brakes on fire.”
According to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers on duty at the Grand Portage Port of Entry at the time the truck arrived there was smoke and flames noticeable from the commercial truck driver’s side rear tire. The officer asked the driver to pull the truck off of CBP property and unhitch the trailer. This was quickly done and the driver exited the vehicle.
CBP officers assisted the driver in attempts to extinguish the brake drum that had overheated and caught fire. After a few attempts, it was determined that further assistance was needed and CBP called the Grand Portage Fire Department. The fire department responded at 2:49 p.m. and put out the fire.
Traffic was temporarily held for a short period of time (approximately 15-20 minutes) while the fire department extinguished the fire.
“Our frontline CBP officers maintain a constant state of readiness and the quick actions taken were instrumental in the resolution of this emergency situation,” said Craig Kalar, CBP Port Director, Grand Portage.
The vehicle was owned and operated out of Canada (Thunder Bay) and was driven by a Canadian driver.
No injuries were reported and the fire department was clear of the scene at 3:07 p.m.
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