Massive fire that closed 10 Freeway investigated as possible arson, sources say
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Hundreds of thousands of commuters were introduced to a major detour on their Monday commute after a weekend fire damaged one of Los Angeles’ busiest freeways, creating a traffic disruption that is not likely to end anytime soon as authorities investigate the cause of the blaze.
Mayor Karen Bass said it was still too early to say whether the stretch of the 10 Freeway through downtown L.A. would be completely demolished or repaired as engineers worked to see how much damage was caused by the intense fire early Saturday at two storage yards under the freeway.
“This morning, I want to speak directly to the 300,000 people who would normally drive on the stretch of the 10,” Bass said during a news conference Monday. “And to those who live, work or have appointments or schools in the area. As we made clear yesterday, this was a huge fire and the damage will not be fixed in an instant.”
A crucial stretch of the 10 Freeway remains closed through downtown L.A. after a major fire damaged the highway. Here is what we know.
Although the state fire marshal’s office with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection completed its investigation, officials have not disclosed the cause of the fire.
Investigators are looking at arson as a possible cause, according to two law enforcement sources who were not authorized to discuss details of the investigation. In addition to pallets, sanitizer accumulated during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic was stored under the overpass and helped fuel the flames, according to the sources familiar with the probe.
Though investigators have not determined its cause, the blaze is of sufficiently suspicious origins to be an arson investigation, the sources said.
Federal, state and local agencies have scrambled to determine what happens next after the sudden closure of a mile-long section of the heavily trafficked freeway, between Alameda Street and the East L.A interchange, a key east-west route through downtown. Bass said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg called and reassured her that federal officials were aware of the impact of closing one of the busiest freeway corridors in the country.
“Losing the stretch of the 10 Freeway will take time and money from people’s lives and businesses,” Bass said. “It’s disrupting in every way. Whether you were talking about traveling to and from work, or your child care plans, and the flow of goods and commerce, this will disrupt the lives of Angelenos.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency Saturday to help expedite the repair work. Acknowledging “the anxiety of millions and millions that live in this region,” Newsom said he knew the question many are asking is: “When the hell is this going to get reopened?”
Before that can happen, structural engineers must determine the extent of the damage so officials can plan for the rebuild or repair.
Mitigation of hazardous materials at the site is ongoing, but most of the site has been cleared for structural engineers and maintenance crews to start their work, California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin said. They have taken samples of the freeway columns and bridge deck.
An initial influx of federal emergency funds has been secured, said Tony Tavares, director of the California Department of Transportation. Contractors have installed shoring underneath the overpass and in the most heavily damaged areas. Video footage from the scene shows the charred underbelly of the overpass and what appear to be sections of columns chipped away.
Monday’s commute was the first weekday for Angelenos encountering the disruption. The mayor’s office sent an emergency advisory Sunday evening alerting residents about the detour, and officials encouraged employers to let their employees work remotely if possible. Nearby L.A. Unified schools remained open, though traffic was expected to be worse, especially in Boyle Heights and south of downtown.
At Grand Central Market, Maria Behringer scrambled Monday to set up the pastries for Bastion Bakery after she left her apartment near USC around 6:40 a.m. and arrived around 7:15 a.m. Though the market opens at 8 a.m., she needed time to set up her station before customers started trickling in.
“I was definitely rushing more than I usually do, so it was little a bit of a stressor,” said Behringer, 30. “I didn’t realize how close the fire was to downtown and I didn’t realize it would affect my commute.”
Her partner, Brandon Walsh, who rode in with her, said their usual commute takes them east on the 10 and then onto the 110 Freeway. But this time, the GPS rerouted them to side streets.
“I think so much was diverted to 110 [because of the fire] so the GPS just told us to get off at Grand and go into the city,” said Walsh, 32.
Officials encouraged car commuters to try alternatives, such as Metrolink, rail lines and local bus services, which are all expecting an increase in daily riders.
Metro Chief Executive Stephanie Wiggins told Angelenos to “plan ahead, share the ride, and keep up to date” on the disruption. She said there was a noticeable increase in cars parked at Union Station on Sunday, indicating people were taking advantage of public transportation. Officials directed drivers to check the detour status online at emergency.lacity.gov, and commuters can call 511 or check Metro.net for alternative routes.
Investigators are looking into the cause of a major fire that has shut down the 10 Freeway in downtown L.A. Officials said to expect ‘significant’ traffic issues.
“This is our litmus test,” Omishakin said Monday. “Did we reach everyone and convince them that they need to plan ahead and plan alternate routes?”
At Union Station, Metro ambassadors said foot traffic was lighter than usual.
Brian Lin, 45, of Anaheim was sitting in heavy traffic on the 5 Freeway when he decided to park his car at Atlantic station in East Los Angeles and take the train into Union Station.
He admitted he doesn’t typically take the train to work, but Monday’s congestion called for a change — at least for one day.
“Luckily, it was just a quick meeting that I had to do in the office,” Lin said before an incoming Metro train chimed in the distance. “I think my ride is here.”
Claire Stolwyk, 27, waited for the J line bus at the Civic Center/Grand Park station while reading a book when she realized she had forgotten to check whether her commute to Cal State L.A. would be affected.
She pulled out her phone and saw a notice from Metro on Google Maps, but it looked like her route was in the clear. The bus pulled up to the stop on time.
Twenty-five participants in a journalism fellowship in L.A. used Metro buses and trains to get to multiple meetings a day for a week. Safely. Happily. And on time.
The fire was reported early Saturday, shortly after midnight, in the 1700 block of East 14th Street after a pallet yard under the freeway caught fire and spread to a second pallet yard, damaging the freeway overpass and destroying several vehicles, including a firetruck, authorities said.
Timothy Garrison, 55, was sleeping behind a nearby Shell gas station near the overpass when he heard explosions, he said Monday morning as he sat against a wall near 14th and Elwood streets, around the corner from the site of the fire.
When he peeked out of his makeshift tent made of plastic trash bags, he saw giant flames flickering out of the overpass.
“The heat was so intense,” he said. “I thought the overpass was going to crumble.”
Garrison heard about 10 to 15 pops and explosions as the fire continued to rage, and he moved to escape the heat, he said.
He knew of some people who lived underneath the freeway but said he had not seen them. He could not say how many people were living there.
Officials did not disclose any information about homeless encampments, but Cal Fire investigators said they were taking all elements into consideration. Wooden pallet yards are common along the 10 Freeway in the industrial center near downtown.
A row of blue tarps, trailers and wooden shacks sat along 14th Street on Monday among piles of wood from pallets and metal debris.
Not far from Santa Clara Street, a group of men had set cardboard and wood on fire to cook several feet from a pallet yard.
Showers expected to begin Wednesday will bring 1 to 3 inches of rain to Southern California over four days, without intense storms or flooding, forecasters say.
Workers in the area said firefighters frequently come to put out fires caused by people living on the streets.
It’s why Antolín Padilla, 34, installed fire extinguishers at the entrances of his business, Jaz Pallets, which sits along the railroad tracks near Santa Clara Street. He and another pallet yard owner on 14th Street agreed to enforce a “no camping zone” around their businesses, often telling people to camp elsewhere, after a fire spread to the wall of Padilla’s pallet yard a few months ago.
“The workers grabbed the extinguishers in time and were able to put it out,” he said, pointing to a charred corner of the wall. “It’s a problem; the city needs to move people from this area.”
Nearby, David Cortez, 34, owner of D&G Pallets, said the fire showed why he’s often on edge.
Standing outside his business, he pointed to a pole where a thin green wire dangled from the power line above and said he worried about homeless people tampering with lines to tap into the electricity.
“I’m not even sure if that wire is energized or not, but it’s dangerous,” he said. “And the fire hydrants have been damaged from people attempting to use pliers to get water.”
Derrick Smith, 39, walked nearby pushing a cart filled with metal debris. He had been staying near the overpass when the fire broke out. At least five or six people were living around him, he said.
Smith said he was in a deep sleep when he started to hear people banging on his trailer to warn him of the fire.
“They kept saying there’s a fire and get out,” he said. He ran away, leaving all his belongs behind.
“The heat was intense as hell,” he said.
Wearing a blue hoodie, black shorts and dirty Crocs, he said he had no change of clothes and was not sure whether he lost his trailer.
“I probably did,” he said, stuffing his hands in the pockets of his sweater.
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