Workers clear burned-out semi from San Pedro freeway

Officials fully cleared the wreckage Friday night, a day after a semi-truck carrying lithium-ion batteries caught fire, closing the 47 Freeway and Vincent Thomas Bridge in San Pedro.

At least one battery being transported by the semi exploded, creating flames 5 to 10 feet long, fire officials told KTLA .

The fire raged on Thursday, but by Friday afternoon, the scene cooled down as multiple tow trucks arrived to move the remnants of the semi and assorted debris.

Caltrans said on X, formerly Twitter , that the fire was extinguished a few minutes before 2:30 p.m.

“The cargo will be moved, followed by a cleanup operation and a Caltrans inspection of the roadway to ensure safety for travelers and all road users,” the agency added.

“After LAFD removed the shipping container from the roadway and cleared the big rig from the lanes, the roadway was inspected and there is no damage and all hazardous materials have been removed,” officials said Friday night around 9:15 p.m. “The smoldering container (which is still on a fire department lowboy trailer) remains in a rail yard near Fire Station 40 in a secured site with no public access.”

All road closures have been lifted and firefighters will continue monitoring the container overnight and into Saturday morning.

“We anticipate transferring control of the hazardous materials incident to the U.S. Coast Guard by noon tomorrow,” LAFD said.

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