East Lyme — Interstate 95 northbound reopened Tuesday afternoon after being closed for hours between exits 73 and 74 due to a tractor-trailer fire, according to East Lyme Public Safety, the Connecticut Department of Transportation traffic alert system and police. During the closure, traffic was being diverted off exit 72.

Both northbound lanes were open as of 4 p.m. Tuesday, according to Connecticut State Police. One lane had reopened earlier in the afternoon, according to a 1:18 p.m. message from East Lyme Public Safety.

East Lyme Police Chief Michael Finkelstein and Connecticut State Police said there are no reported injuries. The original call came in just before 10 a.m.

Finkelstein said a tractor trailer truck carrying Goya products caught on fire but there was no crash or other vehicles involved.

Finkelstein said the cause and origin of the fire remain under investigation by the Office of the East Lyme Fire Marshal, with assistance from the Connecticut State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit. He said, at this time, it appears the cause of the fire was debris from the highway that became lodged under the rear wheel area of the trailer, igniting the fire.

Also responding were the Niantic, Flanders and Chesterfield fire departments. The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection was advised of runoff due to the large amount of water used to extinguish the fire, Finkelstein said.

East Lyme Public Safety said there was heavy smoke condition in the area.

The highway, in the area of the fire, was closed for more than three hours on Tuesday, which caused "extensive traffic issues" in East Lyme, Finkelstein said. 

Day Staff Writer Kimberly Drelich contributed to this report.

e.moser@theday.com