Hours after the westbound lanes of the Green River Tunnel on Interstate 80 reopened to traffic, Steve Core sat in his Green River City Hall office, somberly reflecting on the deadly details of a fiery 26-vehicle crash that closed it more than eight months ago .

It was around 11:30 a.m. on Valentine’s Day, and Green River residents who had procrastinated were scrambling to buy last-minute candy, flowers, and cards for their sweethearts.

Core, a city spokesman for six years, was working when he spotted thick, black smoke pouring from the tunnel toward the back of Green River’s municipal building.

Core hopped into his car for a closer look, and as he drove toward the smoke to take some photos, he quickly realized the westbound side of the tunnel was on fire.

“I have never seen

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