Big rig’s tires catch on fire, fall off

A set of tires on a semi-truck heading south on Interstate 19 caught fire and rolled about 300 yards across four-lanes of traffic before knocking down a street sign and hitting the wall of a Green Valley home Tuesday afternoon.

Green Valley Fire District firefighters responded to the area of Camino de Diana and the frontage road around 3 p.m. after receiving reports that tires were on fire in the area and could possibly start a brush fire, GVFD spokesman Bill Bohling said.

Just minutes earlier, the Arizona Department of Public Safety received a call from a motorist who said a set of dual back tires on a semi were on fire, Bohling said. South of the Duval Mine Road exit, the tires disengaged from the truck, crossing the median, northbound lanes and east frontage road before hitting the wall and street sign, Bohling said.

A pillar of black smoke was visible blocks from the scene.

The semi continued driving and was stopped by a DPS officer in Rio Rico, Bohling said.