CORONA, CA — A southbound I-15 semi-truck fire led to the lengthy closure south of the 91 Freeway in Corona on Wednesday morning, California Highway Patrol shared.
The #3 and #4 lanes of southbound I-15 at E. Ontario Avenue remained closed at 10 a.m. due to the fire and subsequent cleanup. CHP estimated the closure would remain in effect until 11 a.m.
“Please avoid the area by using an alternate route,” they said.
The trailer fire ignited just after 7:15 a.m., for as-of-yet unidentified reasons. No injuries were reported as the driver self-evacuated at the scene, according to CHP dispatch.
Corona Fire Department firefighters arrived shortly after, dousing the blaze as passers-by told dispatch the semi “looked like (the semi-truck) may explode.”
Once the fire was out, the semi-truck caused a 300-foot-long oil leak, which Caltrans then addressed by steam-cleaning the road’s surface and removing all debris. The Sig Alert was put into place shortly before 9 a.m., according to CHP.
An update will be provided once the lanes are open.