SYLMAR — A big rig car-carrier loaded with eight new Teslas caught fire on the Golden State (5) Freeway in Sylmar today, resulting in toxic smoke that shut down southbound lanes.

The fire was reported at 5:35 p.m. Saturday on the southbound Golden State Freeway just north of Balboa Boulevard, according to the California Highway Patrol. The Los Angeles Fire Department reported the fire out at about 9:30 p.m.

The transport with its burning load of lithium ion battery-equipped cars was off to the side of the truck lane but the toxic smoke from the fire made it necessary to shut down all of the southbound lanes, including the truck lane, according to the CHP. Traffic was rerouted to the northbound Antelope Valley (14) Freeway.

Traffic on the transition from the southbound Antelope Valley Fr

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