JUDA — Shortly after 5 p.m. Tuesday, the Juda Fire Department responded to reports of a vehicle on fire in the construction zone near Short Lane on Wisconsin 11/81.

Juda Fire Chief Steve Isley said firefighters were on scene for roughly an hour and a half to put out the flames and secure the highway.

The engulfed box truck, which was in the eastbound lane, backed up traffic on the highway already cut down to two lanes from its usual four for road work that began in late March. The truck had reached the sign indicating the end of road work and was parked on the right shoulder of the highway when the fire took place. All occupants were able to exit the vehicle as firefighters worked to extinguish flames which spread to the grass near the road within minutes. 

Isley said there were no injuries.

The vehicle and its contents appeared to be destroyed by the fire. Isley said the truck was a “total loss” and the “fire was probably due to a mechanical issue with the vehicle.”

Officials were coordinating a detour to allow cars driving toward Juda a way to get to the village and alleviate the congestion of traffic just before 5:30 p.m. By 5:40 p.m., most of the traffic, with the exception of large semi trailers, had been moved via other roadways. 

Monroe Fire Department provided mutual aid at the scene.