Recently, a lithium battery fire on California’s I-15 left drivers stranded for hours over the weekend in the intense summer heat. Reportedly, first responders struggled to extinguish the fire involving a truck as temperatures reached a sweltering 109 degrees. According to authorities, the vehicle carrying the batteries had crashed near Baker, California, on a highway that led to Las Vegas.
As a result, the northbound lanes were closed around 8:30 in the morning, and traffic in the southbound lanes halted shortly after around 9:00 a.m. For drivers in the southbound lanes, traffic resumed roughly four and a half hours later at 2:30 p.m. However, the Northbound lanes had to remain closed overnight, creating a massive burden for travelers.
San Bernardino County Fire wrote on X, “The northbound lanes of the 15 Freeway near Baker remained closed overnight. To manage traffic, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) alternated the north and southbound flow on the southbound lanes. Multiple attempts were made to move the container from the freeway shoulder to open land using heavy equipment from the County Fire’s Special Operations Division, including an excavator and a dozer. Ground improvements and grading were completed in preparation for relocating the container to a safe area for long-term mitigation and cleanup. However, the container’s weight, exceeding 75,000 pounds, has made these efforts unsuccessful so far.”
The first responders noted concerns about air quality conditions, as toxic materials had been burning in the air for a considerable amount of time. “The primary concern is the air quality due to the hazardous materials and chemicals involved. Air monitoring is assessing for hydrogen cyanide, chlorine, and sulfur dioxide. These chemicals pose significant health risks at elevated levels, with hydrogen cyanide and chlorine being particularly dangerous even at low concentrations,” the post added.
Expounding upon the road closures imposed by the California Highway Patrol, the statement added, “CHP continues to enforce a hard closure of the northbound 15 at Harvard. All travel and road closure information should be referred to the CHP Barstow office. County Fire is closely monitoring the hazmat situation and air quality in coordination with CHP and Caltrans, who have authority over freeway closures and diversion routes.”
The message added, “County Fire is working with partner agencies and resources to call for additional heavy equipment for the removal of the container, an effort that will continue throughout the day. The container’s weight requires specialized equipment for successful removal. Constant reevaluation will occur throughout the day. This is a fluid and dynamic situation, and we will continually assess public safety needs. Further updates will be provided through the responsible agencies.”
The social media post offered important travel safety tips, particularly in the summer heat where conditions during the recent accident were well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. “Remember to prepare for travel, especially during the current elevated temperatures. – Provide plenty of water and supplies in your vehicle. – Plan your route accordingly and ensure you have enough supplies, fuel, and charge in your vehicle. – Use caution with any electronic routing systems that may suggest alternate routes, especially those that include dirt roads. Often, these areas are unimproved trails and roads, which can lead to vehicles getting stuck, a significant problem experienced throughout the day yesterday,” the message concluded.
See a recent EV fire below:
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