Flame-spewing tailpipe ignites several brush fires in Merrimack

Scene of roadside brush fires that erupted from a truck's flame-spewing exhaust pipe on Sunday afternoon. (NHSP photo)

MERRIMACK - New Hampshire State Police are are on the lookout today for the driver of a truck that spewed flames from its tailpipe igniting several brush fires along the F.E. Everett turnpike on Sunday.

Police responded around 1:30 p.m. after a witness reported a yellow Mack Truck with "Kallwall" lettering written on the side panels traveling southbound with flames intermittently bursting from the exhaust pipes and starting brush fires at multiple locations on the side of the highway.

Merrimack Fire Department responded and was assisted by both Nashua and Bedford Fire Departments to put out the fires which started to catch deeper into the wood line, according to the state's Department of Safety. In several locations the flames approached residential properties. The right-hand travel lane was closed in several locations for approximately 30 minutes as crews worked to extinguish the flames.

Anyone with any information related to this incident is asked to contact Trooper Perciballi at (603) 271-3636.