Breaking news: A massive fire in a storage yard has resulted in the closure of a section of the 10 Freeway in downtown LA. Concerns have arisen regarding the structural integrity of the roadways, including the guardrail of an off-ramp.
Caltrans workers are working diligently to address the situation so that Caltrans can assess the integrity of the roadways. Los Angeles City Firefighters responded to the fire on East 14th Street in the early morning, which also spread to a second storage area, causing damage to additional structures.
Firefighters were able to protect commercial buildings, but trailers, vehicles, and pallets were destroyed. A total of 26 fire companies and over 160 firefighters were called to combat the blaze, with the LA DWP providing additional water pressure to handle the high volume needed.
Fortunately, an encampment beneath the freeway on 14th Street was evacuated, and no significant valuables were destroyed. The fire has affected the underside of the 10 Freeway over 14th Street, causing damage to the columns. Caltrans has a structural engineer on-site to assess the integrity of the bridge once the fire is extinguished. However, the fire is still actively burning, so there is uncertainty about when the assessment can be conducted and when the bridge can be reopened.
We advise avoiding the downtown area and utilizing alternate routes, as traffic can be heavy, especially on weekends..
