This article was modified at 4:56 p.m. Jan. 5, 2013 to reflect the incident occurred on Chiraco Summit, near Desert Center.
A fire in the engine compartment of a 20-foot trailer flatbed rig hauling crates containing steel caused more than 40 gallons of fuel to spill on the eastbound Interstate 10 on Chiraco Summit Saturday, officials reported.
The incident was reported at 7:58 a.m., east of the Box Canyon Drive exit ramp, near Desert Center, according to the California Highway Patrol.
According to the CHP, the incident quickly changed from a vehicle fire to a hazardous materials incident when it was discovered the big rig was leaking fuel.
The emergency forced closure of a far left lane, the CHP reported.
There was also a hard closure of the 10 at Cottonwood Road, the CHP reported.
It was unclear how long it would take crews to clean up the spill but county crews had an estimated time of about 1 p.m., the CHP reported.
