The vehicle — a semi truck with a Spodeck Contracting cab pulling an Alter Recycling trailer — was seen smoking on the roadway, apparently unbeknownst to the driver. Witnesses called it in around 2:25 p.m., and the Escanaba Department of Public Safety was able to flag the truck down as it was traveling east on Third Avenue North. The semi turned left onto Lincoln Road before pulling into the parking lot between Auto Zone Auto Parts and Advance Auto Parts, as directed by authorities.

Incidentally, the items on fire were also auto parts.

Escanaba Public Safety officers raced from trucks to hydrants, gearing up and connecting hoses. In a few minutes, they had water from ladder truck 35 and some handheld hoses trained on the trailer.

Alter Metal Recycling, a division of A & L Iron and Metal Company from Gaylord, has a yard on Seventh Avenue North in Escanaba. The semi may have been heading in that direction when its contents — which included at least parts of vehicles, given the tires visible out of the top of the box trailer — caught fire.

Burning chunks of metal fall to the pavement as smoke seeps out the sides of a trailer on fire at 2:35 p.m. on Friday. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)

It wasn’t long before the fire, which remained contained in the trailer except for a couple burning pieces that fell, was extinguished. No injuries were sustained.

The cause of the fire was not reported.

The Escanaba Department of Public Safety was assisted by the Delta County Sheriff’s Department and Delta County Central Dispatch.

Escanaba Public Safety responds to the scene of a burning semi. Here, they tackle the blaze after directing the driver to a parking lot off the highway. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)

A firefighter from the Escanaba Department of Public Safety walks towards the back of the recently-extinguished semi trailer, which is pouring water. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)

First responders scramble to get fire hoses set up. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)

At 2:33 p.m., flames and smoke climb from a semi trailer while firefighters rush to reach the blaze. Escanaba Public Safety was already on scene, but still getting connected to hydrants. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)

Escanaba Public Safety's ladder truck blasts the burning scrap in a trailer with a heavy stream at 2:36 p.m. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)

A man watches a smoldering trailer from the parking lot of Advance Auto Parts in Escanaba on Friday afternoon. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)

It's a good thing safety videos exist. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)