At approximately 2:25 a.m. on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, the Oronoco Fire Department was dispatched to a fire call along Highway 52.
A United States Postal Service semi-trailer was engulfed in flames. The driver detached the semi from the trailer. Reports indicate the fire ignited around the rear brakes of the trailer.
The Minnesota State Patrol shut down traffic on Highway 52 for approximately 20 minutes while firefighters extinguished the fire. The road was cleared and traffic resumed by 3:35 a.m. that morning.
The semi trailer, full of mail heading to postal locations in southeast Minnesota, was decimated by the fire. Mail was either damaged or destroyed by fire or water used to extinguish the blaze.
Multiple attempts were made to communicate with the head of media relations for Minnesota for the USPS to get an update on the fire and the impact on consumers utilizing the Postal Service.
According to USPS Strategic Communications Specialist Desai Abdul-Razzaaq, Minnesota’s primary media contact, “The Postal Service is aware of an incident involving a postal vehicle that caught fire. Some mail was impacted, and we are currently assessing the extent of the damage. Customers whose mail may have been affected will be notified as soon as possible. The safety of our employees and the security of the mail remain our top priorities. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and are taking all necessary steps to ensure continued reliable service.”
Abdul-Razzaaq would not release specific zip codes impacted by the damaged mail.
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