ABC News August 21, 2025

20 tons of ribeye steaks go up in flames on side of highway in tractor trailer fire

WATCH: 20 tons of ribeye steaks go up in flames on side of highway in tractor trailer fire

A tractor trailer carrying more than 40,000 pounds of ribeye steak went up in flames on the side of the highway after the vehicle caught fire early Monday morning, officials said.

The Doolittle Rural Fire Protection District in Doolittle, Missouri, responded to reports of a tractor trailer on fire on Route 174 eastbound early Monday morning, according to fire department officials.

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However, when they arrived, they discovered that the vehicle engulfed in flames was carrying over 20 tons of ribeye steaks, which the department called “a total loss” following the incident.

It was probationary firefighter Jenna Ulrich’s first fire and she fought it alongside her father, Glenn Ulrich, even though Jenna is a vegan, according to the Doolittle Rural Fire Protection District.

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Doolittle Rural Fire Protection District
A tractor trailer carrying more than 40,000 pounds of ribeye steak went up in flames on the side of the highway after the vehicle caught fire early Monday morning, officials said.
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“Nothing says ‘welcome to the fire service’ like sending the probie to put out 40,000 pounds of flaming ribeye!” fire officials said in a statement on social media. “Probationary Firefighter Jenna Ulrich is the only vegan on our department -- so naturally, her very first fire involved a tractor trailer carrying 40,000 pounds of ribeye steak.”

Officials said this was their eighth vehicle fire in the last three weeks but did not immediately say what they think was the cause of the fire to the tractor trailer carrying the steaks.

The investigation is currently ongoing.