Electric big rig fire, hazmat situation prompts I-80 closure in California, halting Sierra Nevada freeway traffic
An electric big rig fire has both directions of California's Interstate 80 closed in the Sierra Nevada on Monday morning.
Cal Fire crews confirmed that they responded to the scene for a big rig fire around 3 a.m. near Emigrant Gap. California Highway Patrol later confirmed they are dealing with a hazardous materials situation due to potentially toxic fumes from the electric big rig's batteries.
First responders say that the batteries of the electric big rig were still burning more than four hours later.
Officials say drivers should expect I-80 to be closed until around 8 a.m. Due to the situation surrounding the batteries, people are being kept at least a half mile away from the scene.
Westbound lanes are closed at Highway 20 and eastbound lanes are closed at Nyack. CHP says all big rigs are being turned around westbound at the Nevada state line and eastbound at Applegate.
No other details about the big rig fire, including if there were any injuries, have been released.
Electric vehicle fires
Fires involving electric vehicles have proven to be problematic for first responders.
Back in 2023, firefighters in the Sacramento area said it took about 6,000 gallons of water to extinguish the flames from a Tesla Model S that caught fire on Highway 50. A few months later, firefighters decided to just let another electric vehicle burn itself out on Highway 99.
