A large fire, which seems to have ignited from a homeless camp beneath the 110 Freeway, is causing significant disruptions for commuters in Los Angeles. Northbound lanes are set to remain closed indefinitely due to concerns about potential damage to the road’s structure.
The incident occurred on Monday night under an overpass in Wilmington, close to the Port of Los Angeles, prompting the closure of both sides of the busy freeway, as reported by the Los Angeles Fire Department.
While southbound lanes were reopened on Tuesday morning, northbound lanes from Harry Bridges Boulevard to Channel Street are likely to stay closed for an uncertain period.
A spokesperson from the California Department of Transportation indicated that crews are still evaluating the damage to the highway structure on the northbound side.
“We are trying to gauge how deeply the highway is built, to determine if the fire has the potential to damage the underside and affect concrete, rebar, and bridges,” a Caltrans spokesperson stated.
“However, we won’t have a full understanding until the fire is out, and it’s safe for the Los Angeles Fire Department to assess the situation,” they continued.
LAFD Public Servant Lindsey Lantz noted that they are closely monitoring the condition of the highway.
“So far, we haven’t observed any noticeable structural issues,” she explained.
The fire was initially reported as a “garbage fire,” and investigators suspect it was sparked by individuals experiencing homelessness.
Lantz previously mentioned that the area contained tents and substantial debris surrounding the access point.
The department later shared an image of some of the charred debris that firefighters worked to clear from the camp to control the fire.
“Fire crews removed a considerable amount of debris, but the burning materials require ongoing suppression efforts,” LAFD stated.
On Tuesday, Los Angeles City Councilman Tim McOscar expressed deep concerns for public safety in response to the fires, highlighting the need for enhanced safety measures.
“Today’s events showed a clear failure in communication between the state and the city,” McOscar remarked. “Caltrans needs to actively collaborate with the city to secure these areas and improve emergency notification systems.”
“The delays we faced today are unacceptable, and we must ensure they don’t occur again.”
McOscar’s motion includes suggestions for implementing “fire detection, warning, and emergency notification systems within the highway framework,” according to the announcement.
Commuters traveling north near the Port of Los Angeles should prepare for delays as road closures continue, with traffic being redirected to Channel Street.
Fortunately, no injuries have been reported, and the fire remains under investigation.
The outlet has reached out to Caltrans and LAFD for further information.
