HazMat Train Fire Near Palm Desert Critically Injures 2 People

PALM DESERT, CA — Interstate 10 near Palm Desert was partially closed Friday as firefighters worked to contain a hazardous materials fire that broke out on a train and seriously injured two people.

Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department responded to the scene of the blaze at 12:33 p.m. near Dinah Shore Drive and Pacific Avenue and found a container on a train had caught fire.

At 3 p.m., the agency reported the container was carrying hazardous materials, including 25 pounds of lithium batteries, consumer drills, cell phones, 28 standard car batteries, 11 airbag deploy gas cylinders, and other toxic substances.

Two people were hospitalized with critical burn injuries, the agency said.

Traffic lanes were closed on Interstate 10, between Cook Street and Monterey Avenue, according to Caltrans. Traffic in the area remained heavy Friday afternoon.

Union Pacific Railroad stopped all railroad traffic in the area, according to officials.

Firefighters were able to enter the container and dose the flames at approximately 4:45 p.m. and were in the process of clearing the scene with no indication as to how long resources would remain at the scene, Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department reported.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.