Multiple vehicles and heavy machinery on fire near Winterhaven
UPDATE (4:30 PM) - As of right now, all lanes on Interstate 8 are open again, including the Winterhaven Drive exit.
UPDATE (3:30 PM) - As of right now, the fire is still under investigation.Â
The call came in around 12:20 p.m. Thursday afternoon and when they arrived, heavy equipment machinery being used for road construction was on fire, according to the Imperial County Fire Department.
About five vehicles and a larger tanker were completely destroyed.
Deputy Chief Salvador Flores said a mixture of chemicals was on fire.
The tanker was empty, though it was being used to mix binder resin used for asphalt and because it's extremely flammable, it expanded to the other vehicles.
Thankfully no one was injured. Flores said Caltrans was working here overnight and left their equipment.
Caltrans said the area is their work site but the equipment belongs to a subcontractor.Â
Due to the amount of heat, the eastbound and westbound lanes on I-8 were shut down.
Yuma Proving Ground, Rural Metro, and the Yuma Fire Department, as well as other departments from the Imperial Valley assisted and put out the fire in less than two hours.
As of right now, the right lane on eastbound Interstate 8 is closed and all other lanes are now open.
But there is heavy traffic coming eastbound, so authorities say to avoid the area if possible.
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UPDATE (2:40 PM) - The City of Yuma said in an Instagram post that the Yuma Fire Department (YFD) is assisting Imperial County Fire Department with a fire.
The fire involved a semitrailer and associated equipment used for roadway construction.
Parks in the area are temporarily closed, and as of 2 p.m., YFD said the fire was under control and parks would reopen soon.
WINTERHAVEN, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - The Yuma Fire Department said a semi-trailer containing hazardous materials is on fire on Interstate 8 near Winterhaven.
The fire is by Exit 170 for Winterhaven Drive on I-8 right under the bridge.
YFD is currently on scene of a mutual aid request from Imperial County for a semi trailer fire containing hazardous materials on Interstate 8, just west of Yuma. Please avoid the area!
— Yuma Fire Department (@YumaFireDept) July 13, 2023
According to Abraham Retana, eastbound I-8 is closed and the Yuma Fire Department advises to avoid the area.
KYMA will have more updates.
