On June 5, 2026, a red fuel tanker truck with a silver cylinder trailer experienced a tire fire that spread to the cabin, leaving the vehicle fully engulfed. The incident occurred on the right shoulder of Northbound I-5. The driver attempted to extinguish the fire with an on-board extinguisher before emergency responders arrived. The fire caused significant traffic delays, including a temporary hard closure of the right lanes, and a leak of approximately 25 gallons of diesel fuel mixed with firefighting foam into the drainage system. Caltrans and hazmat contractors (Patriot Environmental and later Action Environmental) were coordinated to manage the spill and cleanup operations. All lanes were eventually reopened, except for the rightmost lane, which remained closed for cleanup.
Original Log
Jun 5 2026 6:46AM: [14] [Appended, 06:48:39] [1] TANKER TIRE W/TIRES ON FIRE DEPARTMENT / LAST SEEN PULLING OVER TO RIGHT SHOULDER
Jun 5 2026 6:47AM: [1] BIG RIG ON RIGHT SHOULDER / WHEELS ON FIRE DEPARTMENT
Jun 5 2026 6:47AM: [2] MESSAGE OR ITEM DELIVERED METRO
Jun 5 2026 6:47AM: [15] [Appended, 06:48:39] [2] ^ LINE 1- TANK TRUCK W/TIRES ON FIRE DEPARTMENT ^
Jun 5 2026 6:47AM: [5] TIRE FELL AND STARTED LIGHTING ON FIRE DEPARTMENT [Shared]
Jun 5 2026 6:47AM: [6] DRVR INTERSECTION OO VEHICLE TRYING TO PUT OUT FIRE DEPARTMENT WITH FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHER [Shared]
Jun 5 2026 6:47AM: [18] [Appended, 06:48:39] [5] MESSAGE OR ITEM DELIVERED METRO COMMAND CTR [Shared]
Jun 5 2026 6:48AM: [7] [Notification] [CHP]-ANOTHER CALLER ADVISE IT WAS A FUEL “BIG RIG, 18 WHEELER, TRACTOR TRUCK” TRUCK [Shared]
Jun 5 2026 6:48AM: [21] “BIG RIG, 18 WHEELER, TRACTOR TRUCK” CATCHING FIRE DEPARTMENT ON RTHS [Shared]
Jun 5 2026 6:49AM: [23] APPEARS THE ENGINE INTERSECTION ON FIRE DEPARTMENT // POSSIBLE – OR – POSSESSION GAS TANKER TRUCK WITH ROUND SHINY TRAILER [Shared]
Jun 5 2026 6:49AM: [27] TRUCK ON FIRE DEPARTMENT NEAR DMH // TRANSFERRED MERCED COMM CENTER [Shared]
Jun 5 2026 6:51AM: [31] RED “BIG RIG, 18 WHEELER, TRACTOR TRUCK” TANKER TRUCK WITH silver CYLINDER TRAILER [Shared]
Jun 5 2026 6:51AM: [38] [Appended, 06:52:03] [1] LOOKS LIKE A GASOLINE TANKER – FULLY ENGULFED
Jun 5 2026 6:52AM: [43] [Appended, 06:53:25] [1] TANKER INTERSECTION FULL OF GAS
Jun 5 2026 6:52AM: [41] MESSAGE OR ITEM DELIVERED MERCED COMM CENTER LANE 38 [Shared]
Jun 5 2026 6:53AM: [48] [Notification] [CHP]-[43] [Appended, 06:53:25] [1] TANKER INTERSECTION FULL OF GAS [Shared]
Jun 5 2026 6:55AM: [64] FIRE DEPARTMENT TRUCK INTERSECTION 97 [Shared]
Jun 5 2026 6:58AM: [74] 87-7 BLKG 2 RIGHT LNS / FULLY ENGULFED [Shared]
Jun 5 2026 7:00AM: [76] 87-S2 UNIT CAN ADVS HOW FAR PERIMETER ZONE NEEDS TO BE KEPT CLEAR FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT OR ADVS ANY BULDING IN AREA [Shared]
Jun 5 2026 7:00AM: [77] 87- 7 FIRE DEPARTMENT INTERSECTION JUST IN CABIN NOT SPREAD TO TANKER ALL TRAFFIC STOPPED WAITING FOR CD4 [Shared]
Jun 5 2026 7:10AM: [83] A87-015 ADVS S UNIT TRAFFIC INTERSECTION STILL FLOWING IN BYPASS LNS [Shared]
Jun 5 2026 7:13AM: [85] L/E MESSAGE OR ITEM DELIVERED STAA [Shared]
Jun 5 2026 7:17AM: [86] S2 INFO TRAFFIC ALL BLOCKED FOR NORTH BOUND SIDE TRAFFIC WAITING FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT ENG OR TRUCK WILL BE COMING WRONG WAY WHILE TRAFFIC STOPPED TO SUPPLY WATER [Shared]
Jun 5 2026 7:19AM: [87] 87-S2 – PER FIRE DEPARTMENT CHIEF DIESEL FUEL WENT DOWN DRAINAGE -FIRE DEPARTMENT STARTED HAZMT START CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (CALTRANS) FOR HARD CLOSURE and HAVE UNITS START WITH CONE PATTERN BLKG 3/4/5- [Shared]
Jun 5 2026 7:21AM: [90] 87-10A2 AT NORTH BOUND 5 AT GENESEE ON RAMP JUST IN CASE WE NEED TO CLOSE IT [Shared]
Jun 5 2026 7:23AM: [91] MESSAGE OR ITEM DELIVERED CT713 // CPZ LINES 87-88 [Shared]
Jun 5 2026 7:25AM: [92] 87-S2 HAVE S5 MOVE HIS VEHICLE [Shared]
Jun 5 2026 7:25AM: [94] MESSAGE OR ITEM DELIVERED CT602-4 // CPZ LINES 87 // WILL BE EN ROUTE [Shared]
Jun 5 2026 7:29AM: [96] SIG ALERT BCT BLUE 1 [Shared]
Jun 5 2026 7:30AM: [97] A87-017 TRAFFIC BREAK LED BY OFFICER IN BYPASS [Shared]
Jun 5 2026 7:35AM: [98] 87-S5 HIGH OCCUPANCY VEHICLE (CAR POOL) AND 1-2 LANE OPEN [Shared]
Jun 5 2026 7:37AM: [100] A87-007 1/2/3 OPEN NOW [Shared]
Jun 5 2026 7:50AM: [103] ^MESSAGE OR ITEM DELIVERED CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (CALTRANS) HQ REGARDING LANE REDUCTION AND HAZMAT [Shared]
Jun 5 2026 7:51AM: [105] CT602-4 — EN ROUTE // 30 MIN ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL [Shared]
Jun 5 2026 7:53AM: [107] MESSAGE OR ITEM DELIVERED SDI AREA FOR MOBILE ROAD ENFORCEMENT N/A [Shared]
Jun 5 2026 7:53AM: [108] MESSAGE OR ITEM DELIVERED ELE AREA FOR MOBILE ROAD ENFORCEMENT N/A [Shared]
Jun 5 2026 8:01AM: [109] MESSAGE OR ITEM DELIVERED DIVISION FOR MOBILE ROAD ENFORCEMENT [Shared]
Jun 5 2026 8:01AM: [110] ^SR #2375018 CREATED FOR CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (CALTRANS) 713 [Shared]
Jun 5 2026 8:03AM: [111] MESSAGE OR ITEM DELIVERED DIVISION – NEG ON ANY MOBILE ROAD ENFORCEMENT’S WORKING TODAY [Shared]
Jun 5 2026 8:05AM: [112] ^1021 CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (CALTRANS) 780 FOR SIGN TKS – HE WILL WORK ON GETTING 2 SIGN TRUCKS [Shared]
Jun 5 2026 8:22AM: [114] ^CT713 — ON SCENE WITH HARD CLSR, #3/4/5 LNS CLOSED [Shared]
Jun 5 2026 8:22AM: [115] ^CT713-1 SIGN TRUCK, ON SCENE ABOUT A MILE SOUTH OF SCENE, SIGN READS ‘ACCIDENT AHEAD 3 RIGHT LNS CLOSED’ [Shared]
Jun 5 2026 8:23AM: [116] ^CT713 — WILL BE GETTING READY TO OPEN #3/4 LNS // WILL JUST END UP WITH #5 LANE CLOSED [Shared]
Jun 5 2026 8:24AM: [118] ^CT602-4 — HIS ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL INTERSECTION ABOUT 10 MINS [Shared]
Jun 5 2026 8:34AM: [119] 87-S5 ONLY SLOW LANE CLOSED [Shared]
Jun 5 2026 8:36AM: [120] ^CT713 — #3/4 LNS ARE OPEN; #5 LANE REMAINS CLOSED [Shared]
Jun 5 2026 8:37AM: [121] ^CT713-1 SIGN TRUCK — UPDATING HIS SIGN FOR LINE 120 [Shared]
Jun 5 2026 8:41AM: [122] ^CT602-4 — ON SCENE [Shared]
Jun 5 2026 8:43AM: [123] ^MESSAGE OR ITEM DELIVERED CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (CALTRANS) HQ REGARDING LANE 120 [Shared]
Jun 5 2026 8:53AM: [124] ^CT601-2 SIGN TRUCK — ON SCENE NORTH BOUND 5 AT GEN ON RIGHT HAND SHOULDER / HIS SIGN READS “ACCIDENT AHEAD PREPARE TO SLOW DOWN” [Shared]
Jun 5 2026 9:38AM: [125] ^CT602-4 LANDLINE — PATRIOT ENVIRONMENTAL INTERSECTION ON SCENE; THEY WERE CONTRACTED BY THE RESPONDING PTY // APPROX 25 GAL DIESEL MIXED WITH FIRE DEPARTMENT FIGHTING WATER OR FOAM THAT MADE IT INTO THE DRAIN / APPROX 4 HRS FOR CLEAN UP [Shared]
Jun 5 2026 10:44AM: [126] ^CT602-4 LANDLINE — PATRIOT UNABLE TO DO THE CLEAN UP // RESPONDING PTY STARTED ACTION ENVIRONMENTAL // 1 HR ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL // ONCE THEY ARE 97 WILL BE APPROX 4-5 HRS TO DO THE CLEAN UP [Shared]
Jun 5 2026 12:14PM: [128] ^SGN TRUCK 718 ASSIGNMENT COMPLETED, BEING REPLACED BY SGN TRUCK 601 [Shared]
Jun 5 2026 12:44PM: [130] ^CT601-2 SIGN TRUCK — ASSIGNMENT COMPLETED FROM NORTH BOUND 5/GEN [Shared]
Jun 5 2026 1:06PM: [131] ^CT713-2 — THE NEW HAZMAT CONTRACTOR INTERSECTION ON SCENE [Shared]