MORENO VALLEY: Big-rig and vegetation fire threatens storage facility, forces SigAlert on 60 Freeway
MORENO VALLEY — A man suffered burn injuries after a tractor-trailer burst into flames while traveling on the 215 Freeway earlier this evening. The fire, which quickly spread to area vegetation, caused a SigAlert that is still ongoing, according to CHP and fire officials. The incident happened on the eastbound side of Highway 60, between Frederick and Heacock Streets, in Moreno Valley.
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CHP, Moreno Valley PD, Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire, AMR, and other emergency personnel were dispatched to the area about 5:50 p.m., after multiple people called 911 to report the commercial vehicle fire. Within one minute of the initial 911 calls, witnesses reported that the big-rig was fully engulfed in fire and that a man was seen climbing from the burning truck.
A big rig burns along the eastbound side of the 60 Freeway in Moreno Valley. Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire photo
Nearly two dozen firefighters from four engine companies, one truck company, and a paramedic squad were dispatched to the fire, Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire spokesperson April Newman explained in an incident report. Eastbound lanes were also heavily effected by traffic as drivers slowed to watch the intense fire, which was billowing thick clouds of black smoke.
Officials began arriving in the area within minutes and reported that traffic was at a near stand-still, with all westbound lanes of traffic blocked.
Firefighters reported finding the big-rig’s cab was fully engulfed in fire, which was spreading to nearby vegetation. Fire personnel also reported that the spreading fire was threatening Super Storage, located just south of the freeway.
Fire personnel quickly extinguished the vehicle blaze and contained the vegetation fire to about a half-acre. After the truck fire was extinguished, little remained of the big-rig – which was destroyed by the blaze.
Based on the circumstances, CHP issued a SigAlert and temporarily closed all eastbound lanes. Caltrans work crews responded to the scene to assist with the freeway closure
Riverside County Environmental Health were summoned to help mitigate 50 to 100 gallons of diesel fuel that spilled from the truck’s ruptured fuel tanks.
Paramedics evaluated and treated the driver of the truck for burn injuries received in the fire. His injuries were reported as minor and the victim declined further treatment at the scene.
At 8:35 Newman updated that the HOV and number one lanes of the freeway had re-opened, but the number two lane was still closed for recovery and clean up efforts – which were expected to last between five and six hours.
No other injuries were reported and CHP is investigating the cause of the fire.
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Trevor Montgomery, 46, recently moved to Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for several other news organizations, including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, The Valley Chronicle and Anza Valley Outlook, as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and The Mountain Echo in Shasta County.
Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.
Trevor has been married for more than 27 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and has 13 children and 14 – soon to be 15 – grandchildren.