A major freeway connecting greater Los Angeles to Las Vegas has reopened following a battery truck fire on Interstate 15 near Baker, Calif. over the weekend.
The crash happened around 8 a.m. on Friday after a truck hauling lithium-ion batteries caught fire near Baker, according to a press release from The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans).
The hazardous fire prompted both sides of the freeway to be shut down while crews worked to contain the flames.
Traffic started to build up for miles as authorities worked to get the 75,000-pound container moved off the highway. Triple-digit temperatures in the desert area also led to 911 calls from drivers experiencing heat-related emergencies while stuck in traffic on the freeway.
More than a day after the fire was first reported, just after 10 a.m. Saturday, authorities said firefighters were still struggling to make progress. That afternoon, the California Highway Patrol station in Barstow said the situation was ongoing and the freeway would not be fully reopened.
The I-15 Freeway is known for connecting Southern California to Las Vegas, and the counties of San Bernardino, Riverside and San Diego. When it was first partially closed on Friday, authorities warned drivers stuck in traffic along the roadway about dangerously high heat, with temperatures reaching around 110 degrees.
County authorities said ambulances and paramedics were being dispatched to help and water was also being brought to those stuck on the freeway.
“Throughout Friday and Saturday, special crews responded to 80 calls from motorists caught behind the closure as we coordinated delivery of essential supplies and medical aid, including 100 gallons of diesel and 60 gallons of gasoline to stranded motorists on I-15 and to those being diverted to I-40,” said Caltrans in a press release. “Emergency crews also distributed eight pallets of drinking water to motorists as desert temperatures began to soar. By Saturday evening, CHP officers completed a welfare check of every vehicle that remained.”
In addition to the safety of the motorists, the primary concern for authorities was the air quality due to the hazardous materials and chemicals involved. Authorities were required to monitor the air for hydrogen cyanide, chlorine, and sulfur dioxide during the cleanup process.
Around 2:30 a.m. Sunday, Caltrans said fire crews made progress and were able to reopen two lanes. By approximately 4 a.m., all northbound lanes were reopened.
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
Source: CBS News, California Department of Transportation, NBC Los Angeles
