Big rig catches fire on I-5 in Encinitas; partial closure causes hours of delays
Dante Ulanday - News Moderator 
A predawn big rig fire on Interstate 5 near San Elijo State Beach led to traffic hassles along the regional route for more than 12 hours Friday.
The tractor-trailer caught fire at about 12:30 a.m. Friday while traveling to the south through Encinitas, according to the California Highway Patrol.
No injuries were reported, but the blaze forced protracted closures of two southbound lanes along with the southbound I-5 off-ramp to Birmingham Drive, the CHP reported.
About eight hours after the fire broke out, a two-vehicle collision in the same area but on the northbound side of the interstate added to the commuter woes.
The Nos. 3 and 4 lanes and the off-ramp at Birmingham Drive remained closed until further notice.
Lane closures remained in effect in the vicinity throughout the morning and into the early afternoon as crews worked to get the damaged vehicles and crash debris off the roadway.
The freeway was fully open again as of 1:30 p.m., the CHP said.
The cause of the trailer fire and the two-vehicle crash was unclear. They came the same week that elected officials questioned how large-scale tie-ups on I-5 are addressed by Caltrans and law enforcement, particularly if the incidents lead to full freeway closures.
Updated at 6:10 p.m. Dec. 19, 2025
