According to reports, a tractor-trailer carrying lithium-ion batteries overturned and caught fire, closing I-15 between Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

“The crash and resulting fire happened near the Afton Road exit just off the 15 Freeway between Barstow and Baker,” KTLA 5 wrote.

“I-15, which is the major roadway that connects L.A. and Las Vegas, had been at a virtual standstill for hours when the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District announced that there was a hard closure on the northbound lanes near Afton Road,” the outlet added.

The incident created a nightmare for motorists, leaving many people stuck on the desert highway for hours.

Some called it a “crisis situation” and a “traffic apocalypse from h***.”

“When drivers trying to avoid the freeway closure headed south to Interstate 40, that freeway also became a parking lot,” Las Vegas Review-Journal noted.

“A truck carrying lithium-ion batteries on the I-15 overturned and caught on fire yesterday near Barstow. The fire emitted LOTS of toxic gases and continues to affect traffic coming into Las Vegas today,” X account ‘Las Vegas Locally’ wrote.

“Thousands of cars and trucks are stranded on I-40E outside of Barstow,” it added.

KTLA 5 reports:

In its latest update at 9 p.m. Friday night, the District said the fire had been burning for 14 hours.

The California Highway Patrol said on Saturday morning that the fire was still burning, but the air quality had improved enough to reopen one lane of I-15 by noon.

The CHP later walked back that estimation. At about 1:30 p.m., the CHP said scientists from L.A. and San Bernardino counties were on the way to the site to conduct hazmat testing, but it would take at least three-and-a-half hours for the testing to begin.

By 4 p.m., the southbound lanes of I-15 were initially closed at Basin Road, but southbound lanes have now reopened. The northbound lanes still remain closed.

The District cited the distance between the incident spot and any fire stations as a complication in regard to the fire. Response times were high due to the logistical challenges, as well as the traffic.

Meanwhile, motorists attempting to travel from Southern California to Las Vegas were stuck in a massive traffic jam for several hours. According to KTLA viewer Katryn Santore, who called into the 8 a.m. newscast, many travelers were sleeping in their cars at gas stations overnight.

“I’ve been on the road since yesterday. I left Los Angeles around 11 a.m.,” Santore told KTLA from I-40 at about 8:20 a.m. Saturday. “I was stuck on the 15 from about 2:30 p.m. to about 9:30 p.m.”

“It took my wife and children 12 HOURS to get home yesterday from California,” comedy magician Matt Donnelly said.

“A crisis situation is unfolding in the California desert. Thousands of people headed to Las Vegas have been stuck on the I-40 for many hours, running out of gas and water. This is all due to the lithium battery truck fire that closed down I-15 yesterday,” ‘Las Vegas Locally’ noted.

Per Las Vegas Review-Journal:

“Thousands upon thousands of commuters headed for Vegas are stuck,” California Highway Patrol Officer Shane Hernandez said Saturday morning.

Hernandez estimated the I-15 backup was probably 15 miles at some point as heavy Friday afternoon traffic en route to Las Vegas stacked up.

It wasn’t clear by Saturday night when the road would be reopened.

As of 4:30 p.m. Saturday, about 32 hours after the incident began, officials were working on a new plan of action but did not have a specific timetable, Hernandez said.

Fires involving lithium batteries are particularly hazardous because they produce chemicals and toxic gases, which made it essential to handle the situation with extreme caution, fire officials said.

Crews were waiting for more hazardous materials specialists to arrive, and there was likely to be a need for a large lifting device, he said.

“They will not be opening (the road) anytime soon,” Hernandez said in a text.

 

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