A vehicle hauling oxygen tanks caught fire and exploded on I-80 eastbound in Parleys Canyon on Monday, July 13, forcing a full freeway shutdown on the main route between the Salt Lake Valley and Park City.

No one was injured. Utah Highway Patrol confirmed that all occupants exited the vehicle before the explosion.

The fire occurred near mile marker 132, on the eastbound climb through the canyon. UHP initially closed all eastbound lanes, then reopened the freeway to a single lane as crews worked the scene, according to ABC4.

Local commuter impact

I-80 through Parleys Canyon is the primary freeway connecting Cottonwood Heights and Holladay residents to Summit County, carrying daily commuters and commercial freight between Salt Lake and Park City. The Utah Department of Transportation describes the corridor as a vital link between the two counties, and the agency has ongoing improvement projects along the route.

The canyon stretch drops more than 2,400 feet in elevation between Parleys Summit and Salt Lake City, with grades between 3 and 6 percent. Any lane closure in the narrow canyon can back up traffic quickly in both directions.

Details still limited

UHP has not released details on the vehicle type, the number of occupants, or what caused the fire. The agency has not said whether an investigation is ongoing, and no timeline for when all lanes were fully reopened has been made public.

ABC4 labeled its report a developing story at the time of publication on Monday. No follow-up from UHP or other outlets had been published as of Monday evening.

Residents can reach Utah Highway Patrol's dispatch at 801-887-3800.