A semi-truck carrying lithium-ion batteries tipped over in San Pedro, leading to a fire that prompted a considerable emergency response as well as traffic snarls in the region. The incident, which took place on Thursday before noon, also raised concerns about hazardous materials. According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, the crash happened in the 900 block of North Seaside Avenue, ABC7 reports.
The situation led to the closure of the 47 Freeway and the Vincent Thomas Bridge, affecting traffic significantly. LAFD Capt. Adam Van Gergen explained, "Lithium-ion batteries take copious amounts of water, so it's generally better to just let them burn," noting the environmental concerns tied to using water to put out the blaze. The fire continued to burn after 12 hours, with fire crews maintaining a hindered stance due to the batteries' nature, ABC7 details. No injuries were reported at the time, and, thanks to the response from the hazardous materials team, no evacuations were necessary.
The fire's intense nature and unpredictability led to extended closures. "It's (the fire) going to go through different cycles," stated LAFD Capt. Adam Vangerpen, as per CBS News Los Angeles, indicated the challenge posed by the nature of lithium-ion battery fires.
Drone footage managed to capture an explosion of the batteries within the truck, KTLA noted. "No injuries were reported."
