A vehicle fire shut down all northbound lanes on Interstate 11 near the Las Vegas Boulevard exit this morning, freezing the northbound commute and stretching backups for miles. Emergency crews responded to the scene to extinguish the blaze while traffic on the freeway came to a standstill. Drivers in the area were urged to steer clear and use alternate routes.
What happened
The Regional Transportation Commission reported the incident around 8:30 a.m., according to News 3. All northbound lanes on I-11 at the Las Vegas Boulevard exit were blocked while crews worked to put the fire out, and motorists were warned to expect heavy congestion in the area.
Past incidents show how quickly delays grow
Vehicle fires and crashes have previously closed stretches of I-11, including a semi-truck blaze that shut northbound lanes at Eastern Avenue and took more than an hour to clear, as reported by FOX5 Las Vegas. Those events underscore how quickly a single vehicle fire can snarl the valley’s commute.
How to stay informed
For live road conditions and detour information, check Nevada 511 at nvroads.com and the RTC's travel alerts before heading out. This story will be updated as officials release more details.
