Two semi trucks burn at Post Falls’ Flying J

Two semitrucks burned Friday afternoon in the parking lot of the Post Falls Flying J truck stop at 3636 W. Fifth Ave. Both the trucks and their loads were a total loss.

Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Larry Sande said the trucks, which were parked and not near the gas pumps, were fully on fire when he arrived.

“We believe the fire may have started in the refrigeration unit,” Sande said.

The truck with the refrigeration unit was hauling potatoes, and the fire spread to the semi parked next to it, which was hauling old newspapers bundled for recycling. A third semi parked further away has some heat damage, Sande said.

A Post Falls police officer was first on the scene and made sure the gas pumps were turned off, Sande said. Flying embers started a small grass fire, but bystanders used fire extinguishers to put out the flames before fire crews arrived.

The driver of the potato truck was taken to Kootenai Health with minor respiratory issues, Sande said.