Los Angeles prepares for transportation crisis following extended closure of Interstate 10 due to fire damage

Los Angeles motorists have received a cautionary advisory about substantial travel difficulties ensuing from a significant fire that occurred over the weekend. As a result of this fire, a downtown segment of Interstate 10, a crucial traffic channel in the city, has been indefinitely closed.

Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles characterized this closure as a "crisis" for a city that already has a notorious reputation for its traffic problems. She strongly advised travelers to prepare themselves for delays and consider alternative routes since the interstate will be closed in both directions near Alameda Street in downtown Los Angeles.

Residents received a citywide alert on their cell phones informing them that the freeway would be closed indefinitely and advising them to anticipate substantial traffic. According to Governor Gavin Newsom, over 300,000 vehicles pass through the freeway corridor daily.

Newsom emphasized the immense importance of the situation, highlighting its impact on the economy, the well-being of Angelenos, and the various repercussions on schools and vulnerable communities. The gravity of the situation is not lost on the officials, who are fully aware of the urgency to expedite the reopening process.

Following a devastating fire at a storage yard, the city is currently in a frenzy to evaluate the road's safety and repair the extensive damage. The fire, which took place early Saturday, rapidly spread beneath the freeway, engulfing a second storage facility and resulting in the destruction of approximately 80,000 square feet of area and multiple vehicles, as reported by the Los Angeles Fire Department.

This photo provided by the California Department of Transportation shows an early morning fire along Interstate 10 near downtown Los Angeles on Saturday.

Caltrans District 7/AP

There is no estimated timeline for reopening the stretch of the busy interstate, and Bass warned Sunday that the issue "is not going to be resolved in one or two days."

Impacted individuals are advised by the state Department of Transportation to consider working remotely, if feasible. Additionally, the LA Unified School District announced that although public schools will remain open, changes are expected in nearby school bus routes. As a result of the closure, Newsom has declared a state of emergency for Los Angeles County.

Newsom further mentioned during a Sunday news briefing that the state fire marshal is currently investigating the cause of the fire, with the investigation anticipated to be concluded by Monday morning.

A Los Angeles firefighter uses a robotic hose to douse a fire under Interstate 10 that severely damaged an overpass in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday.

Structural engineers will assess the damage once the hazardous materials investigation is concluded, according to city and state officials.

Newsom stated that Hazmat teams will be working tirelessly to address the extensive damage inflicted on Interstate 10. He emphasized that the scale of destruction caused by the fires surpasses the incident of a portion of Interstate 95 collapsing in Philadelphia back in June. During his visit to the site on Sunday, Newsom observed a variety of items stored at the location, including wooden pallets, gas-filled cars, and boxes of oranges, as confirmed by officials.

Firefighters were called to a fire at a storage yard measuring 200 by 200 feet, reported around 12:30 a.m. on Saturday. The fire involved pallets, trailers, and vehicles, with nearby buildings being exposed. This information was provided by the fire department.

Los Angeles firefighters mop up damage from a fire that severely damaged Interstate 10 near downtown Los Angeles on Saturday.

Richard Vogel/AP

Fire Chief Kristin Crowley reported on Sunday that the wind propelled the heat and flames, causing them to spread beneath the freeway. Additionally, the wind ignited a secondary storage yard across the street. Crowley stated that the majority of the fire had been successfully extinguished within a span of three hours. Furthermore, firefighters managed to save three adjacent commercial buildings. Crowley added that over 160 firefighters had promptly responded to the incident.

No injuries have been reported as a result of the fire, according to the fire chief.

In response to reporters questioning why the combustible material was permitted to be stored beneath the bridge, the governor stated, "That is currently being evaluated."

CNNs Andy Rose contributed to this report.