LORDSTOWN, Ohio - A semi-truck on fire has westbound lanes of traffic on the Ohio Turnpike, near Lordstown, backed up to State Route 217 according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Crews have put out the fire and Highway Patrol told 21 News that the driver was removed from the vehicle uninjured.

Residents in the nearby Imperial Mobile Home community told a 21 News reporter that they heard a large explosion and could feel the heat of the flames from their homes. 

“When the gas tanks blew, both of them blew, we heard those that actually shook the houses and then all the tires started blowing and then people were worried about what was in the trailer cause you never know but it was quite a scene,” Travis Davis who lives just off the Turnpike said. 

Neighbors say they saw the driver attempt to put out the blaze with his own fire extinguisher before fire crews arrived.

“I had my garden hose out around this side of the house just incase if it were to blow over you never know but we were worried about it,” Davis said. “A lot of people were out here watching, they were worried.”

Lordstown Police told 21 News there are no official road closures at this time but westbound traffic is significantly slowed.

The cause of the fire is unknown.