Caltrans reported a complete closure of Interstate 80, between Colfax and state Route 20, just before 2 p.m. The highway remained shut down to traffic as of 2:45 p.m.
Mary Eldridge, a spokesperson for Cal Fire, said the fire was started by hazardous materials within the vehicle's lithium ion batteries and fumes from the chemicals are dangerous.
Eldridge said the semitruck went off the road, adding that an investigation will look into why it veered and whether the fire started before or after.
The vegetation fire has been named the Blue Fire because it's located near the Blue Canyon exit on I-80, but the fire is small with minimal spread.
Collection
[
|
...
]