CNN
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Commuters in Los Angeles braced for traffic chaos Monday after a massive fire over the weekend forced an indefinite shutdown. Interstate 10one of the city’s main transportation arteries.
Mayor Karen Bass called the situation already a “crisis” for the city. Famous for traffic difficulties. He urged travelers to plan alternative routes in case of delays as the interstate remains closed in both directions near Alameda Avenue in the city’s downtown.
A citywide alert was sent to residents’ cellphones ahead of Monday morning’s commute, warning that the highway would be “closed indefinitely” and that “significant traffic congestion is expected.”
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According to California Governor Gavin Newsom, more than 300,000 vehicles travel on California’s highways every day.
“This has significant implications for the economy and the health and safety of Angelenos,” Newsom said. “The impact on our schools and vulnerable communities, we take all of that very seriously and are soberly aware of the urgency of bringing this matter into the open.”
The city is rushing to assess road safety and repair damage caused by the massive fire. The explosion spread under the freeway early Saturday, igniting a second storage facility and eventually engulfing about 80,000 square feet and destroying several vehicles, the Los Angeles Fire Department said.
Caltrans District 7/AP
This photo provided by the California Department of Transportation shows an early morning fire that broke out along Interstate 10 near downtown Los Angeles on Saturday.
No timeline has been set for the interstate to reopen, but Bass warned Sunday that the problem “is not going to be solved in a day or two.”
The state Department of Transportation urged commuters to work from home or take public transportation if possible.
Public schools will remain open, but nearby school bus routes may also change, according to the Los Angeles Unified School District. announced.
port of los angeles It warned travelers Monday morning to prepare for traffic jams and alerted them to updates and alternative routes.
Gov. Newsom declared a state of emergency for Los Angeles County in response to the closure and said the state would assess the damage and begin repairs as soon as the site can be accessed.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg stated in a statement He said he was in contact with California authorities, adding that federal highway officials were expected to arrive in Los Angeles on Monday.
The State Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the fire. Newsom said at a news conference Sunday that the investigation is expected to conclude Monday morning.
Caltrans District 7/AP
Los Angeles firefighters used robotic hoses Saturday to extinguish a fire under Interstate 10 that caused severe damage to an overpass in downtown Los Angeles.
City and state officials say once the hazardous materials investigation is complete, structural engineers will be able to enter the site to assess the extent of the damage.
Hazardous materials teams will be working around the clock to clean up damage on Interstate 10, Newsom said, adding that the damage caused by the fire is “significantly larger” than the fire. . Part of Interstate 95 in Philadelphia collapses In June.
“What I saw was that it was stored in this location,” said Newsom, who toured the site Sunday. A wooden pallet, a car filled with gasoline and a box of oranges were all found under the Los Angeles Bridge, officials said.
Around 12:30 a.m. Saturday, firefighters responded to a report of a fire in a 200-by-200-foot warehouse that exposed the structure, “with pallets, trailers and vehicles involved in the fire,” the fire department said. .
Richard Vogel/Associated Press
Los Angeles firefighters worked Saturday to clean up damage from a fire that caused extensive damage to Interstate 10 near downtown Los Angeles.
“The wind pushed the heat and flames under the highway and ignited a secondary storage building across the street,” Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said Sunday.
Crowley said most of the fire was extinguished within three hours and firefighters were able to save three nearby commercial buildings. More than 160 firefighters responded to the incident, she added.
According to the fire chief, no injuries were reported in the fire.
Asked by reporters why flammable materials were allowed to be stored under the bridge, the governor said, “That’s all under evaluation.”
Newsom said the tenants at the premises are in violation of their lease agreements. “Although we are in litigation and their lease has expired, we have been proactive in addressing concerns related to the lease itself,” he said.
Officials believe the tenant “sublet the space on multiple sublettes. This is part of the litigation posture,” Newsom said.