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California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency Saturday after a massive fire broke out at a warehouse, closing one of the busiest highways in downtown Los Angeles.
The fire was first reported early in the morning around 12:30 a.m. in a pallet yard located under I-10 near East 14th and Alameda streets, officials said.
It eventually grew to eight acres before dying out.
Shocking video footage from KABC shows huge flames shooting into the sky, consuming a highway overpass.
The inferno caused homeless people living under the road to rush out and destroyed an LAFD fire truck and several civilian vehicles, according to the media outlet.
No injuries were reported, according to the LAFD.
“The state is mobilizing resources and taking steps to ensure that all necessary repairs are completed as quickly as possible to minimize the impact on those traveling in and around Los Angeles,” Newsom said in a statement.
“The state will assess the damage, remove hazardous waste and begin repairs as soon as the site is accessible,” he added. “Caltrans and the California Highway Patrol will continue to provide updates as they become available.”
The first warehouse to catch fire was a 40,000-square-foot property, according to LAFD. The flames then spread to a nearby warehouse of similar size, between Lawrence and Elwood streets.
By around 2:30 a.m., pallets at the two yards were mostly on fire and firefighters used bulldozers to move debris and extinguish hot spots, according to the local station.
“Firefighters successfully defended three exposed commercial buildings from the expanding fire,” the LAFD said in a statement.
In the morning, the section of highway was charred, with guardrails deformed by the heat.
Caltrans said the highway would be closed for at least 24 hours while the extent of the damage was assessed.
“If it’s just the concrete, it’s what we call spalled – spalled – there might be an opportunity to just go in and do some cosmetic repairs,” said Lauren Wonder, a spokeswoman for Caltrans, at KABC. “If the rebar is destroyed and there are concerns about the structural integrity of the bridge, we will need to keep any traffic load off the structure, which will then require more extensive repairs. »
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