Crime & Safety
Arizona I-10 Fire Today Oct 26: Truckload of Pumpkins Goes Up in Flames
Avondale, AZ – A truck carrying nearly 20 crates of pumpkins caught fire along eastbound Interstate 10 in Avondale on Monday, October 26, leaving behind a burned trailer and piles of damaged pumpkins
By Cameron Hayes · 2026-10-27T00:10:45.361Z
Avondale, AZ – A truck carrying nearly 20 crates of pumpkins caught fire along eastbound Interstate 10 in Avondale on Monday, October 26, leaving behind a burned trailer and piles of damaged pumpkins just days before Halloween.
According to the Arizona Department of Transportation ADOT , the vehicle fire occurred along eastbound I 10 in Avondale, part of the busy highway corridor serving the Phoenix metropolitan area.
The incident sent nearly 20 crates of pumpkins up in flames, damaging the truck's trailer and leaving charred produce and cardboard scattered along the roadside.
Photographs released by ADOT show extensive fire damage along the side of the trailer, with sections of its exterior burned away and pumpkins visible among the wreckage.
No Injuries Reported as Crews Clear I 10 Fire
Fortunately, ADOT confirmed that no injuries were reported in connection with the fire.
The agency's Incident Response Unit, sponsored by GEICO, worked alongside other first responders to address the situation and remove the damaged cargo.
Recovery crews used heavy equipment to collect burned pumpkins, damaged cardboard boxes and other debris from the roadside.
ADOT reported that responders cleared the incident within a few hours. The agency did not specify the exact time the fire started or provide additional details about its cause.
Pumpkin Shipment Burns Just Before Halloween
The timing of the incident was particularly unusual, occurring only five days before Halloween, when pumpkins are in high demand for seasonal decorations and celebrations.
ADOT acknowledged the unusual circumstances in a social media post, writing, "OH MY GOURD," before adding, "This wasn't the Great Pumpkin arrival we had in mind."
Although the fire created a significant cleanup operation along one of the Phoenix area's busiest interstate corridors, officials confirmed that everyone escaped injury.
The cause of the vehicle fire has not been publicly identified in ADOT's announcement.