Big rig catches fire on I-10 near Whitewater, snarls traffic

A big rig caught fire on Interstate 10 near Whitewater Thursday afternoon, snarling traffic but causing no injuries.

The truck was fully engulfed in flames about two miles west of the eastbound Whitewater Rest Area about 2:30 p.m., according to the California Highway Patrol.

A caller told the CHP that flames had spread to nearby brush, but a Riverside County Fire Department spokeswoman confirmed the fire was confined to just the big rig.

The CHP reported at 3:37 p.m. that the fire was extinguished, but a SigAlert was issued at 5:18 p.m. stemming from traffic delays associated with the blaze.