LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – The truck fire that caused the days-long shutdown of the I-15 was the first of its kind in the nation, according to highway agency CalTrans, which led to an unprecedented response for removal of hazardous materials.
July 26, California Highway Patrol officials said a tanker carrying “lithium iron” caught fire north of Baker on I-15, leading to a virtual shutdown of the freeway for almost two days. Drivers sought a detour with a 50-mile backup on I-40.
The lithium iron shipment was headed to a solar farm in Wisconsin, according to CHP. Officers tell FOX5, they were well-equipped to manage a fire involving the more commonly-used “lithium ion,” but needed assistance from Emergency Management and hazardous materials experts once the cause of the blaze was identified.
“The manufacturer is advising that it could burn anywhere from a few days to another two weeks. That’s kind of the unknown of this whole situation,” said CHP Officer Shane Hernandez.
“They brought out some heavy equipment and they were going to push the container further into the desert. Once they started doing that, it fully burst out into flames again, and obviously the the crews had to pull back to a safe distance for their own safety,” Hernandez said. “Because of how soft the sand is in that location, they basically had to construct a road from the freeway out into the desert,” he said.
Many were stalled on the freeway for hours, running out of water and gas.
CalTrans issued the following statement to FOX5:
“The safety of the traveling public and highway workers is always Caltrans’ top priority. The I-15 lithium battery incident was the first of its kind here in the United States, and Caltrans and the California Highway Patrol worked with federal and local partners to quickly secure the area and assist people affected by coordinating the delivery of essential supplies and medical aid to stranded motorists on I-15 and to those being diverted to I-40 as well as 100 gallons of diesel and 60 gallons of gasoline.
In collaboration with our partners, we will continue to evaluate and update our traffic management strategies to improve flow and safety on our highways in case of emergencies and traffic congestion to lessen the impacts of motorists in California and bordering states.”
Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said federal leaders must scrutinize and limit the transport of hazardous materials across federal highways to prevent another shutdown.
“The main goal, of course, is to make sure that things like that can be prevented. We’re working on new guidelines and procedures all the time, to make sure that hazardous materials, that we count on as a country, but have to make sure it moves more safely. It is not an obstacle to people getting to where they need to go,” Secretary Buttigieg said. The Secretary posted on “X” that his office was monitoring the closure and humanitarian response.
“Just as flammable liquids have presented a lot of problems, including a tanker truck crash that took out a bridge in Pennsylvania, newer technologies, including battery equipment, can be a risk too. There need to be ways to handle that properly and safely,” Secretary Buttigieg said.
A spokesperson for Congresswoman Dina Titus said that her office is looking into the ban of hazardous materials on roadways, and whether federal legislation is needed.
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