All lanes reopened after semi truck fire on I-5 in Encinitas

Southbound Interstate 5 was jammed for several miles through North County after a big rig caught fire early Friday, prompting lane closures for several hours, with the lanes remaining closed until shortly after 1 p.m. Friday.

Hours earlier, a collision around 12:30 a.m. just north of Birmingham Drive in Encinitas sparked fire in the front of the semi, which spread to the attached trailer, California Highway Patrol Officer Michael Meza said.

Two freeway lanes — the slow lane and the one to the left — and the offramp at Birmingham Drive were ordered closed. That left open the two left lanes, as well as the carpool lane. Traffic maps showed red lines, indicating cars were backed up several miles north to Poinsettia Lane in Carlsbad.

Crews were still removing the last portions of the burned truck from the freeway as of 12:30 p.m. Friday. CHP and Caltrans each announced shortly after 1 p.m. that all lanes had reopened.