A fire near the top of a utility pole temporarily shut down I-44 in Eureka Monday afternoon, April 24. The fire appears to have been caused by a power surge, the Eureka Fire Protection District reported.
At 1:08 p.m., Eureka Fire got a call about wires burning on a pole near the interstate just east of Six Flags Road. When firefighters arrived, they saw a pole smoldering, Assistant Chief Scott Barthelmass said.
Ameren employees arrived at 1:23 p.m. and extinguished the fire the report said.
Because there was a chance the pole could collapse, Eureka Fire closed eastbound and westbound lanes on the interstate and nearby West Fifth Street at 3:48 p.m., Barthelmass said.
He said Ameren employees secured the pole by 4:10 p.m., and the interstate was re-opened in both directions. A significant portion near the top of the pole was burned and Ameren needs to replace the pole.
No injuries were reported.
Ameren spokesman Jeff Trammel said no customers lost power because of the utility pole fire because the company was able to reroute the lines.
Eureka Police and Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper also responded to the scene.