CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – A tractor trailer that caught fire late Thursday night threatened wildland and resulted in Highway 20 being shut down for several hours as firefighters worked to contain a diesel spill.
The California Highway Patrol said the crash, which took place just east of Clearlake Oaks and east of Hillside Drive, occurred just after 11:50 p.m. Thursday.
A FedEx big rig pulling two trailers caught fire and was fully engulfed by the time that Northshore Fire and Cal Fire responded, according to radio reports.
The driver reportedly got out of the rig. No injuries involving the driver were reported.
Reports from the scene stated that the big rig had gone off the road. The CHP said a trailer went over the wall and was partially in the water.
Firefighters were able to knock down the fire before it got into the wildland. The fire ultimately was contained shortly after midnight to the tractor and first trailer, with partial damage to the second trailer, according to incident commanders.
Highway 20 was reported to be blocked, and officials at the scene indicated the highway would be closed for an extended period of time during mop up.
The crash resulted in a diesel spill into the lake, with the Lake County Office of Emergency Services, the California Department of Fish and Game and Lake County Environmental Health being notified of the spill.
The battalion chief at the scene indicated over the radio that 150 to 200 gallons of diesel had gone into Clear Lake as a result of the crash and fire.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Marine Patrol and Northshore Dive Team also responded to the scene to assist with installing booms to stop the diesel spill from spreading, according to radio reports. It was estimated that up to 700 feet of boom would need to be placed.
The work of placing the booms went on into the early morning hours, according to radio traffic.
Caltrans also was called to put traffic control in place, as there were concerns about potential collisions due to some “near misses” that had occurred in the area.
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