A tractor-trailer caught fire on the freeway in the Encinitas area Friday, prompting hours-long lane closures while crews removed debris.
The blaze erupted around 12:30 a.m. Friday as the semi-truck was southbound on Interstate 5 near the Birmingham Drive off-ramp, according to the California Highway Patrol.
CHP officials said the big rig pulled over after the trailer had caught fire, but it was unclear if the driver was injured.
The nos. 3 and 4 lanes and the off-ramp at Birmingham Drive remained closed until further notice.
Around 8:30 a.m. Friday, two additional vehicles were involved in a collision near the same area as the trailer fire but on the opposite side of the freeway. The accident held up traffic for about 30 minutes, according to the CHP.
The cause of the trailer fire and the two-vehicle crash was unclear. Caltrans and the CHP were working to clean up the area, officials said.
There were no major injuries immediately reported.
Updated at 10 a.m. Dec. 19, 2025
–City News Service
