Update 8:23 p.m. Highway 38 was re-opened at 8:18 p.m. Sunday after being closed in both directions most of the day due to an overturned propane tanker truck, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Update 8:13 p.m. Workers were in the process of "sweeping up" the roadway at 8:05 p.m. Sunday and reported "when done should be clear to open" Highway 38, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The 38 was closed in both directions most of the day when a propane tanker overturned for unknown reasons before 10 a.m. Sunday Aug. 5.
Update 5:13 p.m. Workers on scene were tranferring propane from the tanker trailer that overturned earlier Sunday on Highway 38 northeast of Redlands, the California Highway Patrol reported at 5:03 p.m.
"Poss starting cleanup in about an hour," the CHP reported.
Some motorists trying to get down the 38 from Big Bear were "getting 415 verbal" with firefighters at one closure, the CHP reported earlier.
The numbers 415 correspond in penal code to "disturbing the peace."
Update 4:43 p.m. Tensions flared on Highway 38 Sunday afternoon during a multi-hour closure of the key route in and out of the Big Bear Lake area due to an overturned propane tanker trailer and the ensuing cleanup.
"Fire advises parties are getting verbal with them" at one of the closures, the California Highway Patrol reported at 4:29 p.m. "Handled and sent parties back to Big Bear."
At 4:27 p.m., the CHP reported a resident was inquiring if he could go down the mountain from Big Bear. His cabin is one mile down the road from where the incident occurred, the CHP reported.
Highway 330 and Highway 18 are the alternative routes until the 38 is re-opened, according to the CHP and Sa Bernardino County Fire.
Update 4:03 p.m. The overturned tractor trailer was upright, and the tanker and trailer needed to be connected, the California Highway Patrol reported at 3:29 p.m.
"Cleanup should be another 3 hours," the CHP reported.
Update 2:23 p.m. The California Emergency Management Agency is requesting information about "how many people were evacuated and when evacuation is lifted," according to the California Highway Patrol.
A CHP dispatcher said at 2:15 p.m. she was not sure where people were evacuated from. She noted there are campgrounds in the area.
Posted 1:43 p.m. A propane tanker overturned on Highway 38 in the San Bernardino National Forest northeast of Redlands, shutting down a primary route in and out of the Big Bear Lake area on Sunday.
Highway 38 was closed in both directions from Angelus Oaks to Lake Williams, and the road was expected to remain closed into the evening hours, Tracey Martinez of the San Bernardino County Fire Department said.
Highway 330 and Highway 18 are the alternative routes.
The closure was necessary while hazmat specialists worked to transfer the tanker's load to another truck, Martinez said.
The tanker was northbound toward Big Bear Lake when it overturned "for unknown reasons" about 9:45 a.m. Sunday Aug. 5 near Jenks Lake Road East east of Angelus Oaks, Martinez said.
The tanker landed on the passenger side near the edge of the road and the driver was able to get out on his own, Martinez said. He was alone and no other vehicles involved in the collision.
The driver, who was not identified, sustained minor injuries and he was transported by American Medical Response to a local hospital, Martinez said.
Firefighters responded and contained "a small diesel fuel spillage," Martinez said.
"San Bernardino County Fire Hazardous Material specialists, along with the assistance of Caltrans Haz-Mat, are on scene assessing the damage to the propane tank to determine where the leak, if any, may be coming from," Martinez said in a statement released Sunday before 1 p.m.
"Another propane carrier is already on scene ready to off-load and transfer the 9,600 gallons of propane," Martinez said.
"Officials are concerned about the potential fire threat to the nearby forest," Martinez said. "As a precaution, firefighters from San Bernardino County Fire and the U.S. Forest Service are on scene."
The area where the truck overturned is below the San Gorgonio Wilderness, close to where the 38 crosses the Santa Ana River and South Fork Campground.
The California Highway Patrol was investigating.
