A powerful fire on a flatbed semi truck sent fierce flames and a thick column of black smoke into the sky and closed northbound Interstate 5 in downtown Seattle Monday morning.

The fire erupted at about 9:20 a.m. and burned violently while traffic passed by in the carpool lane. After about 17 minutes, all northbound lanes of the freeway were then closed by police.

WATCH IT: Flames Shoot From Truck SLIDESHOW: Flames Engulf Truck As It Sits On I-5 SLIDESHOW: KIRO 7 Viewer Photos Of I-5 Truck Fire

Authorities said the heavy traffic delayed the arrival of police and firefighters.

Several explosions erupted in the truck's tire area during the fire, and WSDOT crews hung back until firefighters arrived.

The raging fire burned for about 20 minutes before fire crews started to douse the flames with both water and foam.

Video from Chopper 7 showed one of the truck’s tires catching fire and popping as the truck’s cab became a ball of fire. Flames also came from the truck’s underside.

When the fire was finally out, a thick smoky haze filled the area.

The driver, Gary Okiama said he wasn't even aware of the fire, until passing motorists pointed it out.

“They were honking at me at the last minute when it started getting totally on fire, so I hit my brakes and jumped out and looked and there was a big fire already on the transmission,” said Okiama.

The fire transformed the truck’s cab into a burned-out hulk. Authorities said the fire started in the truck's engine compartment.

KIRO 7 Eyewitness News reporter Chris Legeros said a number of cars below the freeway were covered in debris from the fire. Fire crews hosed them off.

No one was hurt, and there was no damage to the freeway.