Firefighters Extinguish Flaming Pickup Truck on 101

Yesterday San Rafael firefighters responded to a pickup truck loaded with car batteries caught fire on the roadway, a California Highway Patrol officer said.

A blue Ford F-150 was "fully engulfed" in flames in the right lanes near the Lincoln Avenue exit, a caller reporting the fire at about 3:20 p.m. told the CHP, Officer Peter Van Eckhardt said.

A Bay Area Freeway Service Patrol vehicle was first to arrive at the scene. The patrol provides free assistance to disabled vehicles, Van Eckhardt said.

Unable to cope with the burning pickup truck, the patrol vehicle driver stood by until firefighters arrived at about 3:30 p.m., he said.

Firefighters began dousing the burning truck with water, but Van Eckhardt said they had to change tack after discovering the Ford's bed was full of car batteries.

To neutralize the acid-spewing batteries, a base substance was used.

"They described it as being something like baking soda," he said.

But the chemical reactions created hazardous materials at the scene, Van Eckhardt said, prompting a more extensive closure.

A Sig-alert was issued at 4:16 p.m. because the right lane on southbound Highway 101 was blocked by the fire response. The alert was updated at 5:21 p.m. after authorities realized it would take longer than they thought to clean up the scene.

Bay City News