Hazmat investigators respond, 47 Freeway closed after big rig with lithium-ion batteries flips over in San Pedro
Hazardous materials investigators were responding to San Pedro where a big rig containing lithium-ion batteries flipped over, trigging a partial closure of the 47 Freeway in the Long Beach area Thursday, authorities said.
The batteries inside the vehicle's shipping container were damaged, on fire and off-gassing and there were reports of one battery exploding, the Los Angeles Fire Department said in an alert at 2 p.m. Two hours earlier, LAFD said firefighters and a hazmat team was just arriving to the scene near 940 North Seaside Avenue.
No injuries have been reported and no evacuations ordered as the freeway was shut down between where the southbound 710 Freeway meets the 47 Freeway to the Harbor Boulevard exit, authorities said. There is has been no widespread threat or hazards reported in surrounding areas.
"Firefighters have created a large perimeter around the site and are in the defensive mode," LAFD officials said.
The first responders were keeping their distance and using hose lines for protection, according to LAFD. Such batteries can be highly flammable and even prone to explosions, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
"While these batteries provide an effective and efficient source of power, the likelihood of them overheating, catching on fire, and even leading to explosions increases when they are damaged or improperly used, charged, or stored," the group's website says.
As the stretch of freeway remained closed at 3:15 p.m., drivers looking to leave Terminal Island were advised by LAFD to use Ferry Street to the Southbound 47 Vincent Thomas Bridge.
Earlier this year, in July, a crash involving a semi-truck carrying lithium-ion batteries led to a closure of the 15 Freeway connecting Southern California to the Las Vegas area that lasted about two days. Drivers were left stranded on the highway, some of them reporting heat-related medical emergencies in the desert area while the hazmat situation led to air quality issues.
The closure lasted so long because the lithium-ion batteries were highly flammable and could not be easily extinguished due to their being prone to explosions and other issues, authorities said.
Check back for updates to this developing story.
"Crews are setting up hose lines in case of fire hazard and decontamination stations in case of hazardous materials exposure," the LAFD alert states.
Around 2 p.m., the big rig could be seen still flipped on its side in aerial footage captured by SkyCAL.
Check back for updates to this developing story.
