Northbound lanes of Highway 281 on San Antonio’s North Side reopen after RV fire

SAN ANTONIO – Updated at 5:11:

The northbound lanes of Highway 281 near Winding Way Drive have reopened.

Original Story:

The northbound lanes of Highway 281 on the North Side are closed Thursday afternoon after a recreational vehicle caught fire while it was being pulled by a tow truck.

Chris Ammon, a KSAT employee who witnessed the fire as he was passing by, said the fire happened around 2 p.m. in the 14700 block of U.S. Highway 281 N. at Winding Way Drive.

• TRAFFIC: Transguide Traffic cameras give a live look of the latest traffic conditions

Ammon said that he drove up right when the tow truck and the RV pulled over. Black smoke was coming from the RV, he said, and it appeared the fire started near the driver’s side tire.

Watch viewer-submitted video by clicking here.

Ammon used a fire extinguisher that he had in his Jeep to try to extinguish the fire, but the flames grew too intense.

“It was just too hot,” he said.

The tow truck driver was able to unhook the RV, which became fully engulfed in flames, Ammon said. The tow truck was not damaged, and the driver of the tow truck and his passenger did not appear to be injured.

Ammon added that he drove off when the flames became too dangerous. He said it appeared the fire started from a blown tire that was dragging on the highway.

TxDOT posted that the highway is closed at Winding Way Drive. Drivers are encouraged to seek an alternate route.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.