Hazardous materials specialists are on scene of a smoking trailer carrying around 10,000 pounds of lithium-ion batteries that were damaged during travel in Gorman Friday morning.

Around 6 a.m. On Friday, first responders received reports of a trailer carrying lithium-ion batteries intermittently smoking on Quail Lake Road in Gorman, just off Interstate 5, according to officials.

Officers with the California Highway Patrol (CHP) Newhall and Fort Tejon Offices responded and confirmed the trailer was abandoned, said Officer Hector Romero, a spokesperson for the CHP Fort Tejon Office.

Around 8:15 a.m., the owner of the trailer contacted law enforcement and told them that, while driving southbound on the 5 Freeway hauling approximately 10,000 pounds of lithium-ion batteries, he hit a pothole near Grapevine Road, which damaged the trailer and caused an unknown number of batteries to react.

Romero confirmed hazmat specialists with the Los Angeles County Fire Department are on scene monitoring the trailer.

Romero says the temperature in the trailer is 150 degrees and continues to rise.

Caltrans was requested to respond for a hard closure of all off-ramps to Quail Lake Road from both directions of the 5 Freeway and the westbound 138.

Romero says as of 10 a.m., the 5 Freeway remains open; however, it is unknown if the freeway will be impacted later.

No injuries have been reported as of the publication of this article.

Ed. Note: This is a breaking news story, more information will be added when it becomes available.      

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