Semi Fire on I-4 Off-Ramp in Sanford Closes Exit, Driver Unharmed

The tractor cab was already fully involved in flames when Seminole County Fire Department crews reached the westbound I-4 off-ramp at mile marker 104 in Sanford Wednesday afternoon, burning down to a charred shell at the exit to US-1792 near Lake Monroe and forcing a temporary closure that stacked up commuters across the interchange during peak evening travel.

The driver walked away without injury. SCFD confirmed the driver was accounted for and unharmed, and the truck was carrying no cargo at the time, sparing firefighters any hazardous-materials complications beyond standard suppression and overhaul operations.

Aerial footage from Chopper 2 captured the scale of the destruction: the tractor's cabin gutted by fire, with firefighters working the smoldering wreckage while highway patrol units held the ramp closed to protect crews on the ground. Teams stayed on scene to knock down lingering hot spots and clear burned debris before clearing the exit as safe to reopen.

The ramp shutdown hit during some of the busiest travel hours on that stretch of I-4, pushing motorists off their usual exit and onto alternate routes while cleanup continued. A single closed ramp on a limited-access highway tends to compound quickly; drivers braking to look, making sudden lane changes, and slowing traffic well behind the actual incident point.

The cause of the fire remained under investigation as of Wednesday evening. With no cargo aboard, the incident carried no freight loss or hazardous spill element, but the destroyed cab still represents significant equipment damage and the start of what will likely be a mechanical or electrical failure investigation for the truck's owner.

SCFD documented the scene through its social media channels, releasing time-stamped photos and an initial department assessment as crews worked the ramp. A final determination on cause had not been released by the time the exit reopened.