Lithium-ion Battery Truck Fire Causes Major Disruption in Los Angeles

A truck loaded with lithium-ion batteries caught fire in Los Angeles, leading to the closure of major ports and a bridge. The fire, which has been burning for over 15 hours, has shut down the Vincent Thomas Bridge and several terminals at the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach.

Firefighters are actively monitoring the situation but face challenges in extinguishing the fire due to thermal runaway, a process where battery cells continue to heat up and reignite. This incident highlights the difficulties in managing large lithium-ion battery fires.

• A truck carrying lithium-ion batteries caught fire in Los Angeles, causing port and bridge closures.
• The fire has been burning for over 15 hours, with firefighters monitoring the situation.
• Thermal runaway is making the fire difficult to extinguish, expected to last up to 48 hours.
• Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach have shut down several terminals.
• The incident highlights the challenges of handling large lithium-ion battery fires.