HARRISONBURG, Va. (WINA) – Interstate 81 was closed in both directions for much of Monday after a tractor-trailer carrying 144 tanks of acetylene caught fire just north of Harrisonburg.

Rockingham County Fire and Rescue Chief Jeremy Holloway says it started when a tire blew out, with at least 15 of the tanks catching fire.

The blowout happened at around 7:30 a.m. The southbound lanes were reopened at approximately 5:45 p.m., but it took more than 12 hours for the northbound lanes to reopen.

Traffic was rerouted onto Route 11, where traffic was backed up for more than 8 miles when traffic was at its peak.

No injures were reported.