A TRACTOR-TRAILER full of lithium ion batteries overturned and caught fire on Interstate-15 between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, reports CNN.
A stretch of the major highway between California and Las Vegas has been closed for more than 30 hours after a tractor trailer carrying hazardous materials overturned and caught on fire.
Officials say a section of the essential highway will remain closed for an 'unknown duration' as crews monitor the air for any potential dangerous chemicals and try to move the massive trailer.The truck lost control and overturned onto Interstate 15 near Barstow, California, around 6am Friday, according to the California Highway Patrol. The truck was carrying a flatbed trailer containing lithium-ion batteries that detached from the truck and eventually caught on fire.
'Due to the lithium-ion, water cannot be added to the fire, the batteries must burn out on their own,' the patrol said.
Both northbound and southbound lanes were initially closed due to the potential hazardous situation, but southbound lanes later reopened and northbound lanes remained closed as of Saturday evening.
Crews on scene are testing the air quality and will reopen the rest of the lanes when they deem it safe to do so, officials said.
'The primary concern is the air quality due to the hazardous materials and chemicals involved,' San Bernardino County Fire said.
'Air monitoring is assessing for hydrogen cyanide, chlorine, and sulphur dioxide. These chemicals pose significant health risks at elevated levels, with hydrogen cyanide and chlorine being particularly dangerous even at low concentrations,' said a spokesman.
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A stretch of the major highway between California and Las Vegas has been closed for more than 30 hours after a tractor trailer carrying hazardous materials overturned and caught on fire.
Officials say a section of the essential highway will remain closed for an 'unknown duration' as crews monitor the air for any potential dangerous chemicals and try to move the massive trailer.The truck lost control and overturned onto Interstate 15 near Barstow, California, around 6am Friday, according to the California Highway Patrol. The truck was carrying a flatbed trailer containing lithium-ion batteries that detached from the truck and eventually caught on fire.
'Due to the lithium-ion, water cannot be added to the fire, the batteries must burn out on their own,' the patrol said.
Both northbound and southbound lanes were initially closed due to the potential hazardous situation, but southbound lanes later reopened and northbound lanes remained closed as of Saturday evening.
Crews on scene are testing the air quality and will reopen the rest of the lanes when they deem it safe to do so, officials said.
'The primary concern is the air quality due to the hazardous materials and chemicals involved,' San Bernardino County Fire said.
'Air monitoring is assessing for hydrogen cyanide, chlorine, and sulphur dioxide. These chemicals pose significant health risks at elevated levels, with hydrogen cyanide and chlorine being particularly dangerous even at low concentrations,' said a spokesman.
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