On the morning of July 26th, a large truck loaded with lithium-ion batteries overturned and burst into flames on Interstate 15 between Barstow and Baker, California, causing major traffic disruption. The highway, a major link between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, was immediately closed, leaving thousands of drivers stranded in the desert heat.
Reports say the closure of the road and the subsequent traffic jams were caused by a truck carrying six large commercial lithium-ion batteries that overturned and then caught fire. As a result, both northbound and southbound lanes were closed as firefighters responded to the dangerous blaze. Southbound traffic eventually reopened, but the northbound lanes remained closed for an extended period of time.
According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal:
The crash, which happened on Interstate 15 just before 8 a.m. Friday, was a nightmare for drivers for about 44 hours, with some calling it a “crisis” and a “traffic catastrophe from hell.” Drivers tried to avoid the highway closure by heading south onto Interstate 40, which also turned into a parking lot.
The outlet quoted Officer Shane Hernandez of the California Highway Patrol as saying that “thousands of commuters heading to Las Vegas were stranded” on Sunday morning, estimating that “traffic jams occurred on the way to Las Vegas on Friday afternoon, with traffic on I-15 estimated to be as much as 15 miles thick at one point.”
Social media users shared horrifying pictures of the traffic jams.
“CARMAGEDDONG!!! We had to turn back from I-40. Was a pain leaving 4 teenage daughters in the car for 10 hours,” one X user wrote in response to local reports of a traffic disaster in the desert between the two major cities, posting a video of the “Carmageddon” traffic jam.
Citizen journalist Ashton Forbes said the battery weighed 75,000 pounds and the fumes it produced were toxic.
The figure was confirmed by the San Bernardino County Fire Department, as cited by the Orange County Register.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported, “The battery burned throughout the night, spewing toxic fumes and was still smoldering Saturday night as authorities struggled to find a way to extinguish the fire and remove the wreckage.”
An unspecified number of drivers took refuge in hotels in Baker and Barstow or spent the night in their cars braving temperatures of nearly 100 degrees Fahrenheit, the media reported.
The California Highway Patrol released the following statement Saturday night:
We apologize for any inconvenience caused, but everything that is being done at this time is being done in the interest of public safety. From where this incident occurred, there are few alternative routes. Units are currently working to determine if it is safe to resume traffic away from the inhalation danger zone. Please remain patient and safe while emergency and paramedic crews respond to this dangerous situation.
The statement also said numerous agencies, including the California Highway Patrol, California Department of Transportation, California Office of Emergency Services, Bureau of Land Management and Environmental Protection Agency, are actively working together to remove any hazardous material that is still burning from the roadways.
“Because it is a lithium-ion battery, you cannot add water to the fire and the battery will burn out naturally,” the patrol explained.
California Transportation Department District 8 said the state was providing water and gasoline to exhausted drivers.
The fire, which burned for approximately 30 hours, required significant resources to extinguish and prevent reignition, a known risk for lithium-ion batteries.
This included a significant number of personnel and heavy and specialized equipment, according to a report from the San Bernardino County Fire Department.
All lanes of the interstate were open Sunday, according to an update from the California Highway Patrol's Barstow Division.
The exact cause of the truck overturning is still under investigation and authorities are working to determine the full extent of the damage.
No casualties were reported in the incident.
Lithium-ion battery risks
Lithium-ion batteries are rechargeable batteries that use lithium compounds to store and release energy. They are used in a wide variety of electronic devices, gadgets, and vehicles, including toys, laptops, smartphones, hybrid and fully electric cars.
However, lithium-ion batteries are not without risks. One of the most significant dangers associated with these batteries is that they can catch fire, primarily due to a phenomenon called thermal runaway. Thermal runaway is a chain reaction that occurs when a battery overheats, leading to the uncontrolled release of energy. This process can be triggered by several factors, including manufacturing defects, physical damage, overcharging, or exposure to high temperatures.
When a lithium-ion battery catches fire, a variety of harmful gases are released that pose significant health and environmental risks. Most notable among these are hydrofluoric acid, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen fluoride. Hydrofluoric acid is highly corrosive and exposure can cause severe respiratory irritation, skin burns, and eye damage. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas produced during the combustion of organic solvents in the electrolyte that is toxic and in high concentrations can cause headaches, dizziness, and even death. Hydrogen fluoride is also a highly toxic and corrosive gas that can cause severe respiratory damage and systemic toxicity.
Other hazardous substances released include phosphorus pentafluoride and volatile organic compounds such as methane, ethane, benzene, toluene and xylene. These compounds contribute to fire and explosion hazards and can cause long-term health effects, including cancer.
Last year, lithium-ion batteries were reported to be responsible for a rise in fires in California.
“Sometimes these fires can engulf entire apartment buildings, causing widespread property damage, injuries, and even deaths. Lithium-ion batteries can also cause wildfires and community fires,” personal injury law firm Mary Alexander & Associates wrote, citing evidence from recent incidents including Tesla cars “spontaneously combusting” and electric bikes suddenly catching fire.
