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Drivers in the United States endured hours of gridlock in scorching 109-degree heat on a California highway Saturday, as emergency crews struggled to extinguish a stubborn fire involving a truck carrying lithium ion batteries. The truck had overturned Friday, causing a massive traffic snarl on Interstate 15, a key route to Las Vegas.
Emergency services were alerted at approximately 6:30 am local time on Friday about the crash near Baker, California.By 8:30 am, authorities had shut down the northbound lanes, and the southbound lanes followed at 9 am Though southbound traffic resumed around 2:30 pm on Friday, the northbound lanes remained closed through Saturday evening.
“The backlog of stuck vehicles on the closed highway has been cleared by rerouting them to I-40,” reported the California Highway Patrol. This reroute, however, resulted in “extremely heavy” traffic on I-40, the only viable alternative due to the closure’s location on I-15.
Efforts to remove the truck’s container from the freeway shoulder were hampered by its weight, which exceeded 75,000 pounds, according to the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District. “Multiple attempts to move the container to open land using heavy equipment have been unsuccessful so far,” the fire district stated on social media.
The fire district also monitored air quality due to hazardous materials and chemicals involved in the fire. “Emergency responders were checking for hydrogen cyanide, chlorine, and sulfur dioxide,” the district added. These chemicals pose significant health risks, especially hydrogen cyanide and chlorine, which are dangerous even at low concentrations.
Lithium ion batteries, prevalent in electronic devices such as e-bikes and electric cars, are notoriously flammable. Once ignited, these batteries burn intensely and are challenging to extinguish. “Lithium ion battery fires can escalate to thermal runaway, needing massive amounts of water to extinguish,” the fire district noted.
Videos posted on social media showed long lines of vehicles at a complete stop, as frustrated drivers shared their ordeal. Some reported being stuck for as long as six hours, worrying about running out of gas or their electric cars losing charge.
“The closure of the northbound side was moved further south,” the California Highway Patrol explained in an email, allowing motorists to use alternate routes. However, the rerouting did little to ease the frustration of those trapped in the traffic jam.
Saturday’s blistering heat added to the misery, with temperatures in Baker soaring into the triple digits. The fire district advised travelers to carry ample water and ensure they have enough supplies, fuel, and charge in their vehicles to withstand such emergencies.
As of 5 pm on Saturday, the northbound lanes of Interstate 15 remained closed, with no clear estimate of when normal traffic flow would resume. Authorities continue to work tirelessly to resolve the situation and ensure the safety of all motorists.
Emergency services were alerted at approximately 6:30 am local time on Friday about the crash near Baker, California.By 8:30 am, authorities had shut down the northbound lanes, and the southbound lanes followed at 9 am Though southbound traffic resumed around 2:30 pm on Friday, the northbound lanes remained closed through Saturday evening.
“The backlog of stuck vehicles on the closed highway has been cleared by rerouting them to I-40,” reported the California Highway Patrol. This reroute, however, resulted in “extremely heavy” traffic on I-40, the only viable alternative due to the closure’s location on I-15.
Efforts to remove the truck’s container from the freeway shoulder were hampered by its weight, which exceeded 75,000 pounds, according to the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District. “Multiple attempts to move the container to open land using heavy equipment have been unsuccessful so far,” the fire district stated on social media.
The fire district also monitored air quality due to hazardous materials and chemicals involved in the fire. “Emergency responders were checking for hydrogen cyanide, chlorine, and sulfur dioxide,” the district added. These chemicals pose significant health risks, especially hydrogen cyanide and chlorine, which are dangerous even at low concentrations.
Lithium ion batteries, prevalent in electronic devices such as e-bikes and electric cars, are notoriously flammable. Once ignited, these batteries burn intensely and are challenging to extinguish. “Lithium ion battery fires can escalate to thermal runaway, needing massive amounts of water to extinguish,” the fire district noted.
Videos posted on social media showed long lines of vehicles at a complete stop, as frustrated drivers shared their ordeal. Some reported being stuck for as long as six hours, worrying about running out of gas or their electric cars losing charge.
“The closure of the northbound side was moved further south,” the California Highway Patrol explained in an email, allowing motorists to use alternate routes. However, the rerouting did little to ease the frustration of those trapped in the traffic jam.
Saturday’s blistering heat added to the misery, with temperatures in Baker soaring into the triple digits. The fire district advised travelers to carry ample water and ensure they have enough supplies, fuel, and charge in their vehicles to withstand such emergencies.
As of 5 pm on Saturday, the northbound lanes of Interstate 15 remained closed, with no clear estimate of when normal traffic flow would resume. Authorities continue to work tirelessly to resolve the situation and ensure the safety of all motorists.
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