Firefighters in San Bernardino County have extinguished a raging fire that erupted in a tractor-trailer carrying 25,000 pounds of tires, creating a massive back up in northbound lanes of the 15 Freeway between Las Vegas and Los Angeles.
The blaze, which reportedly erupted at around 1 p.m. in the Baker area of the Mojave Desert, began when the big rig’s brakes caught fire, according to a preliminary California Highway Patrol report.
In photos released by the San Bernardino County Fire Department, massive plumes of thick dark smoke are seen coming from the semi, which was fully involved with fire.
Fire officials said temperatures as high as 120 degrees and limited water sources created a challenging situation in battling the blaze and encouraged motorists to avoid the area and search for alternative routes as traffic even as late as 8 p.m. was backed up for 15 miles.
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During the firefight, additional ambulances and support units were deployed to help motorists impacted by the incident and the intense desert heat…