Major Fire Closes Lanes Both Ways for Nearly 12 Hours

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A devastating crash involving two semi trucks, including a gasoline tanker, shut down US-131 in downtown Grand Rapids for hours on Saturday morning, forcing thousands of drivers to seek alternate routes.

The incident occurred just after 8 a.m. on southbound US-131 near the I-196 overpass, according to the Michigan Department of Transportation. Emergency crews closed both directions of the expressway as they battled a massive fire that burned for several hours.

Two Drivers Injured, No Life-Threatening Injuries Reported

Grand Rapids Fire Department Deputy Chief of Operations Jack Johnson confirmed that both drivers were transported to a local emergency room with non-life-threatening injuries.

"There were two trucks involved, two semi trucks involved," Johnson said. "Both were transported with non-life-threatening injuries to a local ER."

Johnson also noted that officials called for additional resources to fight the fire, including a specialized airport crash fire rescue unit equipped to handle flammable liquid fires.

"We'd like to thank Allendale and Gerald R Ford International Airport crash fire rescue units for their assistance today," Johnson said. "It's not normal that we have to call in for outside help, but it's nice to know that we have those resources available to us when we can."

8,000 Gallons of Gasoline Caused Massive Blaze

The tanker involved in the crash was carrying approximately 8,000 gallons of gasoline, according to MDOT officials. The fuel spilled onto the roadway and ignited, creating a large fire that threatened nearby infrastructure.

"It was on fire for quite a bit of time before we were able to get it under control utilizing our fluorine-free foam," Johnson said.

MDOT bridge inspectors and engineers were on scene Saturday afternoon to evaluate potential damage to the roadway. Additional crews were en route to assist with cleanup efforts.

Drivers Faced Roughly 12 Hours of Detours

Northbound traffic was detoured at Pearl Street, while southbound US-131 was closed at Leonard Street. Drivers were asked to use alternate routes around the downtown section of the freeway.

Northbound lanes were cleared to reopen at 8 p.m., with southbound lanes reopening approximately 24 minutes later, according to MDOT. The full two-way closure lasted nearly 12 hours, causing significant disruption to commuters and businesses throughout Kent County.

Cause of Crash Under Investigation

Neither the Grand Rapids Police Department nor MDOT officials have released information about what caused the crash. Investigators are working to determine how the tanker came to collide with another semi truck on the busy highway.

Freeway Fully Reopened by Evening

By 8:30 p.m. Saturday, both directions of US-131 were fully reopened after crews completed cleanup operations. MDOT stated it was not yet clear if any portion of the freeway will require repairs after the fire.

The incident has prompted renewed calls for enhanced safety measures on US-131, particularly during morning rush hours when traffic is heaviest in the downtown area.