Big rig fire on 5 Freeway in Irvine temporarily shuts southbound lanes

Officials shut down southbound lanes on the 5 freeway in Irvine near Yale on Saturday afternoon after a big rig became engulfed in flames, the California Highway Patrol said.

It wasn’t clear why the fire started, there was no reference to a collision on the CHP log. A videographer on scene said the driver, who was hauling trash, was able to escape without injury.

One person who called the CHP reported seeing 20-foot flames. At about 3:15 p.m., a CHP dispatcher said all southbound lanes were being diverted to the carpool lane, and Caltrans workers were headed to the location for a “hard closure” – with barriers.

A SigAlert was issued at 3:29 p.m.

Frustrated drivers tried various ways to get around the snarled traffic. At one point, the CHP log said, numerous vehicles were using the center divider to pass others in the carpool lane. A report at 4:43 p.m. said about 15 cars were going the wrong way on a Culver Avenue onramp to head north on the freeway.

All lanes reopened about 6:45 p.m.

All lanes are now open. SB I-5 Jeffrey Off-Ramp though is currently closed. #CaltransOC https://t.co/9Rwwmg4Njz

— Caltrans OC (@CaltransOC) May 12, 2019