Overturned Tanker Closes Interstate 5
During morning commute, an overturned fuel tanker led to a full closure of the Northbound 5 Freeway through the Griffith Park area for over seven hours while LAFD worked with CHP and CalTrans to mitigate the hazard.
At 7:10AM on August 7, 2019 the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to reports of an auto rollover on Interstate 5 Freeway at Los Feliz Blvd. Firefighters arrived to find a double-car fuel tanker overturned, blocking all lanes of the freeway. Working together with the California Highway Patrol, all Northbound traffic was closed and CalTrans District 7 employees began placing sand to absorb any spills.
The tanker was carrying over 7,000 gallons of diesel fuel and the responsible company arranged for a vacuum truck to offload the product for transport. LAFD Hazardous Materials crews conducted a drilling operation to open the required access holes on the tankers.
This extended duration operation involving 53 LAFD firefighters, under the command of Battalion Chief Lance McCloskey, concluded at approximately 2pm and the incident was then transferred to CHP and CalTrans. LAFD Heavy Rescue 3 remained to assist in up righting the tanker.
