Posse tries to wrangle cattle let loose after livestock trailer fire
Greene County firefighters battle a livestock trailer fire along Interstate 20 on Oct. 24, 2023. (Greene County Fire Rescue)
GREENSBORO, Ga. - The Greene County Sheriff’s Office called in a posse to help corral cattle set loose after a livestock trailer caught fire along Interstate 20 on Tuesday afternoon.
All lanes of I-20 near mile marker 140 were shut down shortly after noon when the driver noticed the fire, and pulled off the side of the road.
The driver quickly opened the back gates, trying to save as many of the cows as possible.
The sheriff quickly sent out word and several citizens responded to the scene on horseback, on ATVs, and on foot to wrangle the roaming cattle.
Traffic was routed off the interstate for several hours as the posse got to work.
The busy highway reopened just before 5 p.m. with four cows caught and 12 remaining at large. GSP troopers say the remaining cows were herded to a pasture south of the interstate on a dirt road where they will be corralled into a pin.
Representatives from the USDA, Georgia Department of Agriculture, and Greene County Animal Control responded to the scene as well.
The fire department says the trailer belongs to a Greensboro cattle company. Officials say the fire was sparked by the rear axle.
No injuries were reported.