SHERMAN – A tractor-trailer headed north late Friday on Interstate 95 in Sherman caught fire suddenly, briefly stranding a Mapleton man and his dog who were on their way home.

Maine State Police Trooper Barry Meserve said Paul England, 56, was driving home to Mapleton with an empty 18-wheeler when he smelled smoke and pulled the truck over. Not long after England and his dog were out of the cab, it burst into flames, the trooper said.

Neither England nor his dog was injured, but the tractor-trailer’s cab was a total loss from the fire, which was caused by an electrical malfunction, Meserve said. England did, however, unhook the trailer before the fire started, which saved it from significant damage.

Once police and fire officials responded, they closed the northbound lanes of I-95 for about 20 minutes while the fire was put out, Meserve said, causing traffic to back up about one to two miles.

The trooper said England called a family member to pick him up.