BAKER, CA. (Pain In The Pass) >> Traffic on Interstate 15 is backed up for miles for cleanup after two big rigs caught fire on Tuesday morning and this afternoon.
The first incident was at about 2:50am, Tuesday morning on September 7, 2021. Reports from the California Highway Patrol traffic log, the Amazon big rig stopped on the right shoulder southbound Interstate 15 about 1/2 mile before from the Zzyzx Road exit. CHP, Caltrans and the tow company requested to respond for a hard closure of the #2 lane required in order to allow for the recovery of the burnt big rig and the trailer. The trailer was reported to be full of Amazon packages. Traffic at one point was near a standstill for approximately 30 miles long as they travelled through the Mojave Desert from the Las Vegas area in triple digit temperatures.
The second incident was at about 2:44pm Tuesday afternoon with a separate big rig fire this time on northbound I-15 Zzyzx Rd exit. From the CHP traffic log, the flames were coming from the rear tires of the trailer. This trailer was full of flooring tile. The driver of the big rig was able to unlatch the trailer and kept the flames from his tractor. The trailer was burned to the ground. CHP, Caltrans and the tow company requested to respond for a hard closure of the #2 lane required in order to allow for the recovery of the trailer. Traffic at one point was approximately 10 miles long.
The cause of both big rig fires are unknown at this time. No injuries were reported in either incident and both remain under investigation by the California Highway Patrol Barstow Office.
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