Big Rig Fire Causes Lane Closures on U.S. 80 in Kaufman County

Traffic delays as evening commute begins due to incident on major highway

Mar. 17, 2026 at 11:38pm

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A big rig caught fire on U.S. Highway 80 in Kaufman County on Tuesday afternoon, prompting the closure of four eastbound lanes and causing major traffic delays as the evening commute was getting underway.

Why it matters

U.S. 80 is a major highway connecting Dallas to points east, so any incident that blocks multiple lanes can have significant impacts on traffic flow and commute times for drivers in the region.

The details

Images from the Texas Department of Transportation's traffic cameras showed the four eastbound lanes were closed as of 6 p.m. due to the fire incident, resulting in stalled traffic and a major backup. It was not immediately clear what caused the fire or if any injuries had occurred.

  • The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon.
  • As of 6 p.m., four eastbound lanes were closed due to the fire.

The players

Texas Department of Transportation

The state agency responsible for managing and maintaining Texas' transportation infrastructure, including highways like U.S. 80.

Department of Public Safety

The Texas state law enforcement agency that responds to incidents on state highways.

Kaufman County Sheriff's Office

The local law enforcement agency that assists with incidents in Kaufman County, where the U.S. 80 fire occurred.

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What’s next

Authorities are still investigating the cause of the big rig fire and working to clear the lanes and restore normal traffic flow on U.S. 80.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the potential for major traffic disruptions when accidents or emergencies occur on key highways, underscoring the importance of infrastructure maintenance and emergency response planning to minimize impacts on commuters and commerce.