A big rig carrying large lithium ion batteries overturned in San Pedro, sparking a fire and hazardous materials concerns while also forcing a closure of the Seaside (47) Freeway and the Vincent Thomas Bridge, causing major traffic backups in the area that are expected to continue Friday.
The crash was reported shortly before noon Thursday in the 900 block of North Seaside Avenue, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
A hazardous materials team was sent to the scene, and fire crews assumed a defensive posture against the flames, fire officials said.
There were no immediate reports of injuries, evacuations or widespread hazardous warnings.
The Seaside Freeway was closed between Harbor Boulevard in San Pedro on the west side of the Vincent Thomas Bridge and the Long Beach (710) Freeway to the east. The closure prompted a major backup of traffic — largely truck traffic — in the area.
California Highway Patrol officials indicated that the Vincent Thomas Bridge could potentially remain closed for as long as 24 to 48 hours.
Firefighters will continue to monitor the battery fire through the night and all day Friday, said LAFD spokesman Nicholas Prange.
LAFD spokesman David Ortiz told Fox11 on Friday morning that the batteries continue to emanate heat.
“We have drones that are monitoring the heat,” Ortiz said. “It’s hard to tell because these are sealed batteries and we don’t know if these chain reactions thermal runaways will continue to reignite or by us moving it, make a bigger problem and create another fire.”