Overturned big rig removed after battery fire, allowing Seaside Freeway to reopen – Daily Breeze

SAN PEDRO – An overturned lithium-ion battery rig and hazardous material spill on Terminal Island were removed late Friday, allowing the Seaside (47) Freeway to reopen.

Firefighters moved the load to a safe location on Terminal Island on Friday and removed other hazardous materials affecting the roadway.

The rig overturned just before noon Thursday in the 900 block of North Seaside Avenue, near the start of the highway. The truck rolled onto its side and its load of lithium batteries caught fire.

Los Angeles firefighters responded to the scene, but due to burning lithium batteries, crews backed off and opted to let the fire burn itself out. They found that pouring water on the fire would have done little to actually completely extinguish the flames and may pose a greater threat to the environment as contaminated runoff water enters the ocean.

The fire burned throughout the day Thursday and the cargo continued to radiate heat Friday as authorities examined options to address the danger.

There were no reports of injuries and it was unclear what caused the truck to roll onto its side.

The Port of Los Angeles, along with the neighboring Port of Long Beach, is one of the busiest cargo handling complexes in the world.

“Port of Los Angeles operations were impacted Thursday afternoon by an incident involving an overturned tractor-trailer carrying a load of lithium batteries,” the Port of Los Angeles said in a statement. “The incident occurred near Ocean and Navy Way on Terminal Island. Traffic is being diverted out of the area and all motorists are advised to use alternative routes.

“APM Terminals, Fenix ​​Marine, Everport and Yusen Terminals will be closed on Friday as local fire, hazmat and police departments continue to work on site. “Trapac and the West Basin Container Terminal remain open, as does the World Cruise Center,” the Port of Los Angeles statement said.

“The Los Angeles Port Police and senior port officials are working with emergency responders, container terminal operators, union representatives and other stakeholders to ensure safety and minimize disruptions,” the Port of Los Angeles statement said.

The battery fire on Navy Way at the Port of Los Angeles continued to impact operations at nearby terminals at the Port of Long Beach on Friday, according to a statement released Friday by the Port of Long Beach.

The Port of Long Beach’s container terminals at Pier T and Pier A remained closed Friday during the day shift from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. due to proximity to the fire, the statement said. Port officials will reconsider resuming operations later.

All other container terminals were open on Friday.

“At this time, the incident is not expected to significantly impact the flow of cargo at the Port of Long Beach,” the Port of Long Beach statement said.

Originally published: September 28, 2024 at 7:01 am