Trash fire in truck closes lanes on I-40 in Greensboro

A trash fire in the back of a truck closed lanes on I-40 westbound in Greensboro Wednesday evening, backing up traffic and sending crews into cleanup mode on one of Guilford County’s busiest roadways.

The incident involved a trash truck or dump truck on Interstate 40, where the fire started in the load and spread long enough to disrupt traffic while responders handled the scene. Drivers headed west through Greensboro were caught in the slowdown as lane closures took effect.

Traffic officials said the trash caught fire and created a backup along I-40. The highway was expected to be cleared soon after crews finished working the scene, but the closure still pushed vehicles into delays during the evening commute.

WXII 12 identified the incident as a traffic problem involving a trash truck on I-40 in Greensboro, while WFMY News 2’s traffic update showed how quickly the fire affected the corridor. The combination of fire, response activity and cleanup left westbound traffic moving slowly until the roadway could be reopened.

I-40 is a key east-west route through Greensboro, carrying commuters, delivery trucks and through traffic across Guilford County. Even a single-lane closure on that stretch can ripple into longer delays, especially in the evening when congestion is already building.

No injuries were reported in the notes provided, and the immediate impact centered on traffic, cleanup and temporary lane restrictions. Drivers using westbound I-40 through Greensboro had to deal with the backup until crews cleared the roadway and removed the burned trash from the truck.