Major LA Freeway I-10 Set to Reopen After Closure Due to Intense Fire
Los Angeles is gearing up for the reopening of the Interstate 10 freeway, a crucial transport artery, this coming Monday following a severe fire that prompted its closure. Vice President Kamala Harris, in a press conference with California Governor Gavin Newsom, LA Mayor Karen Bass, and other local officials, announced, "Tomorrow, the commute is back on."
The reopening comes as law enforcement continues their search for a person of interest linked to the blaze that inflicted significant damage on a segment of the I-10 freeway near downtown Los Angeles.
Officials briefed reporters on Sunday morning that more work was required overnight on the freeway to ensure its readiness for Monday's reopening. Cal Fire officials have determined the cause of the fire to be arson and have released surveillance images of a person of interest. The individual is described as a roughly 6-foot-tall man weighing between 170 to 190 pounds. He was seen wearing a black hoodie, blue shorts, grey shoes, a green scarf, a knee brace on his right knee, and carrying a dark backpack. Notably, the suspect appeared to have visible burn injuries on his left leg.
This person was last seen leaving the vicinity of the I-10 freeway and Alameda Street and remains at large.
The fire, which erupted beneath the I-10 freeway, quickly engulfed wooden pallets, trailers, and vehicles stored underneath, creating a vast blaze. Over 160 firefighters were deployed to control the fire, which spread across an area equivalent to six football fields, before successfully extinguishing it after three hours.
Approximately 16 individuals residing under the freeway were evacuated to safety during the incident.
The stretch of the I-10 freeway between Alameda Street and the East Los Angeles interchange has been shut down since the fire. The California Department of Transportation has deployed a 250-person crew working around the clock at the site. The team is focused on reinforcing damaged pillars and replacing wooden posts and steel beams to ensure the freeway’s structural integrity and safety for its reopening.
As Los Angeles prepares for the resumption of normal traffic on one of its key freeways, the focus also remains on apprehending the individual responsible for the fire that led to significant disruptions and damage.