Early Friday night, officers from the California Highway Patrol Barstow station were dispatched to a traffic incident on northbound Interstate 15 in the unincorporated area of San Bernardino County.
A sealed container of six industrial grade lithium-ion batteries had detached from a flatbed trailer and rolled onto the roadway near the right shoulder. As the officers arrived, they noticed a visible fire emerging from the container and immediately called County Fire, which established a safety zone to ensure public safety. CHP officers closed both northbound and southbound lanes. County Fire determined that it was a hazardous material, or hazmat situation, as well as a fire.
On Saturday, the battalion chief on site realized that water needed to be taken to motorists on the highway stuck in traffic. With support from County Fire Division Chief Robert Evans, a member of the San Bernardino County Office of Emergency Services (OES) requested water and hydration stations be delivered to support the incident.
Chief Evans quickly notified the OES Duty Officer, who began coordinating efforts to find safe county locations and staff to drop off water. With cooperation from County Fire and Airports, two drop off locations were identified, and County OES staff were quickly dispatched to the OES warehouse to load multiple trucks with pallets of water for distribution to the sites. In total, nine pallets of water were delivered. County OES staff was also able to coordinate a half pallet of snacks for pets and humans delivered for distribution to the CHP Barstow station in support of this incident.
In conjunction, County OES activated its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to a Level III to support the incident with any other needs that would come up. The County EOC hosted multiple coordination calls where multi-jurisdictional partners were able to have discussions on the status of the incident and efforts taking place to mitigate, as well as meet any unmet needs.
Partnering agencies included OES, Sheriff, County Administrative Office Communications, incident command support from County Fire, Caltrans, California Highway Patrol, Cal OES State Operations Center, Cal OES executive leadership, Caltrans executive leadership, Federal Bureau of Land Management, and the National Weather Service.
Through these coordination calls, the county and its partners successfully moved the container 200 feet away from the roadway so that state agencies could re-open the Interstate 15 freeway and restore normal traffic flow.
Prepare on the Move: Must-Have Go-Bag Items for Your Vehicle
The incident on the I-15, where motorists found themselves unexpectedly stranded, highlights the critical importance of being prepared. Be sure your vehicle’s go-bag is ready with these essential items:
- Water: At least one gallon of water.
- Non-perishable food: Energy bars, canned meals and snacks.
- Flashlight and extra batteries: Vital for nighttime visibility.
- First Aid Kit: To address minor medical issues.
- Jumper cables: For starting your vehicle with a dead battery.
- Spare tire, jack and tire iron: For changing a flat tire. Ensure the spare is properly inflated.
- Warm clothing and blankets: Consider a rain poncho warmth.
- Chargers: Keep your devices powered.
- Emergency whistle: For signaling.
- Maps: Useful when digital directions fail.
- Hygiene items: Sanitizer, wipes and tissue.
- Cash: Useful when electronic payments aren’t an option.
Quick Preparedness Tip
- Customize your go-bag to fit your family’s specific needs, including any necessary medication or documents. Regular checks will ensure its contents are up to date and functional. Remember, preparedness is the key to resiliency in the face of unexpected events.
Stay safe and prepared!