Doolittle, MO – A tractor trailer hauling more than 40,000 pounds of ribeye steak erupted in flames along a Missouri highway early Monday, leaving nothing but scorched metal and the smell of burned beef.
The fire broke out just after sunrise on Route 174 eastbound, according to the Doolittle Rural Fire Protection District. By the time firefighters arrived, the vehicle was fully engulfed—and so were the thousands of pounds of steak it was transporting.
Officials say the load, estimated at more than 20 tons of ribeye, was completely destroyed and declared “a total loss.”
Among the first responders was probationary firefighter Jenna Ulrich, who tackled the blaze alongside her father, veteran firefighter Glenn Ulrich. The fire was her first-ever call—and came with an unusual twist: Jenna is vegan.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and no injuries were reported. The driver of the tractor trailer was able to escape safely before the fire spread.
Photos from the scene showed the burned-out shell of the trailer still smoldering on the side of the highway, with firefighters working for hours to fully extinguish the flames.
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Local officials say the incident caused traffic delays but no extended closures. It’s unclear where the steak was headed.