A vehicle fire has prompted the closure of two eastbound bores of the Caldecott Tunnel on State Route 24, causing significant traffic disruption. Emergency crews are at the scene, with Bores 1 and 2 closed while firefighters respond to the incident.
The incident began at about 11:18 local time when a car suffered a mechanical failure in the second lane of Bore 2, approximately 1,000ft (305m) from the tunnel entrance, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP).
The vehicle subsequently caught fire, with flames engulfing its front end. All occupants were able to leave the car safely and walk out of the tunnel before emergency crews arrived.
At about 11:35, officers from the CHP and firefighters from the Oakland Fire Department responded to the scene, closing Bores 1 and 2 while the fire was brought under control. A tow truck was later dispatched to remove the damaged vehicle.
Authorities said both tunnel bores have since reopened. No injuries were reported, and the cause of the mechanical failure is under investigation.