The hazardous materials team felt it was safer to allow the fire to burn itself out instead of fighting it, which is why the road was closed for as long as it was, said Drivdahl.

A paint striping machine caught fire on a Texas road, causing a shutdown of the road Oct. 2.

Twenty-three police units were called to the scene on Northwest Loop 820 around 4:15 a.m. where the burning machine sat in the westbound lane, the Star-Telegram reported. Both directions were shut down until about 7 a.m.

According to Mike Drivdahl, a spokesman for the fire department, two fire units were dispatched to the scene, but when they learned that paint and propane tanks were on fire, a hazardous materials team was called in as well, the Star-Telegram reported. The hazardous materials team felt it was safer to allow the fire to burn itself out instead of fighting it, which is why the road was closed for as long as it was, said Drivdahl.

While Drivdahl said he was unsure of how many crew members were working with the striper when the fire started, but believes that it was headed to a construction site on Loop 820 near the Las Vegas Trail, the Star Telegram reported. According to Drivdahl, it is still unclear what started the blaze in the first place.

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