A brake problem apparently caused a fire that destroyed a semi and trailer early Saturday morning on I-70 west of Salina.

Just after 4am the driver of the semi, Carl Ashworth of Burnett Texas says he was eastbound on the interstate near the Hedville exit when he began to hear popping noises.

He pulled the semi over to the side of the road and got out of the cab when the cab and trailer carrying produce became fully engulfed in flames.

He was able to call for help and Saline County Rural Fire Districts 3 and 7 responded to the fire. The loss for the 2006 Kenworth T-2000 semi and trailer was placed at $50,000.

The value on the produce was not estimated.