DUNBAR - An Independence, Mo., trucker suffered only slight burns to his hands Thursday as he was forced to unload a burning pickup truck from his flatbed hauler.

The driver loaded a Chevy Silverado in Kearney and said his trip to Missouri was uneventful for 170 miles until he passed Dunbar and noticed smoke. His attempts to use a fire extinguisher were unsuccessful, so he speedily unloaded the truck as it burned hoping to keep the blaze from spreading to another car on the trailer and his tow truck.

The tires popped as he worked, but he was able to get the burning pickup unhooked before firefighters arrived.

Dunbar Fire Chief Jason Burr said six firefighters and four units responded. They were able to quickly extinguish the fire in the truck and portions of the Highway 2 median that were ignited from burning debris.

The driver said the fire was located behind the plastic between the driver’s side wheel well and the engine compartment.