Fire Temporarily Shuts Multiple Port of LA Terminals

Image: Port of Los Angeles.

A tractor trailer that overturned at the Port of Los Angeles caused a fire that temporarily closed multiple terminals in late September.

APM Terminals, Fenix Marine, Everport and Yusen Terminals were closed part of the day on Sept. 26 and 27 as local fire, hazmat and police agencies responded to the fire, which was caused when the tractor trailer—which was carrying a load of lithium batteries—ignited a fire near Ocean Boulevard and Navy Way on Terminal Island, the Port of LA said in a statement.

The port’s TraPac and West Basin container terminals both remained open, as did the World Cruise Center terminal, according to the port.

The accident site was cleared by the afternoon of Sept. 27, and roadways including the Vincent Thomas Bridge and Seaside Avenue were the reopened.

“Multiple agencies safely relocated the vehicle and its load to a secure area. Additional work has been completed to clean the site and ensure it is safe to reopen along with nearby bridges,” the port explained in a statement.

After being moved to a safe location, the trailer fire was allowed to burn itself out, officials said.

“The Port of Los Angeles is grateful to the many first responders, public agencies including our own Los Angeles Fire Department and Los Angeles Port Police, as well as private stakeholders and Port of Los Angeles tenants who have worked together around the clock to protect the lives of those working in and traversing the area, bringing a safe resolution to the situation,” the POLA said in a Sept. 27 statement.

Port of Los Angeles terminals that were closed as a result of the accident resumed full operations by Sept. 28, port officials said, adding that its longshore workers, terminal operators, truck drivers and others worked to quickly move any backlog of cargo as normal operations resumed.