Tesla semi-truck fire prompts I-80 closure in California as hazmat response halts Sierra Nevada freeway traffic
A Tesla big rig that caught fire kept both directions of California's Interstate 80 closed in the Sierra Nevada for more than half a day on Monday.
Cal Fire crews responded to the scene of an electric semi-truck fire around 3 a.m. near Emigrant Gap. California Highway Patrol later confirmed they were dealing with a hazardous materials situation due to potentially toxic fumes from the big rig's batteries.
First responders say that the batteries of the electric big rig were still burning hours later.
Due to the situation surrounding the batteries, people were being kept at least a half mile away from the scene.
"The battery itself, you can't just spray water on it to put it out. It takes either some sort of dry chemical or very huge amount of water, I've heard as much as 40,000 gallons," said Ofc. Jason Lyman with CHP Gold Run.
It's unknown what the semi was hauling.
Extended closure of I-80
CHP initially said they expected the roadway to reopen around 8 a.m. Monday, but the freeway remained fully closed through the late afternoon. The westbound lanes had reopened by 4:30 p.m. but the eastbound lanes didn't reopen until late in the evening.
Cal Fire aircraft dropped fire retardant on the semi, like during a wildfire fight, to keep the flames under control.
The incident started as a crash when the big rig went off the roadway and into the trees. No injuries were reported, CHP says.
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.
