SAN PEDRO, CA — A fire burning in a tunnel beneath the 110 Freeway prompted a full shutdown of the roadway overnight and continued to snarl traffic Tuesday, authorities said.
The situation may lead to continued lane closures in the coming days: Firefighters on Tuesday afternoon continued to battle the fire — at a homeless encampment — almost 24 hours after the blaze first broke out, KTLA reported.
The blaze was reported at around 7:50 p.m. Monday beneath the freeway between Harry Bridges Boulevard and Channel Street, near the Port of Los Angeles, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Firefighters responding to the scene encountered flames burning within a confined underground space, described as an access portal rather than a pedestrian tunnel.
Crews worked for hours to reach and suppress the fire, with Heavy Rescue and Urban Search and Rescue teams assisting due to the challenging conditions.
The California Highway Patrol shut down the 110 Freeway in both directions late Monday as crews battled the blaze.
Southbound lanes reopened around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, but northbound lanes remained closed between Channel Street and Harry Bridges Boulevard.
KTLA reported it may be several days before the northbound freeway fully reopens.
Fire officials said the blaze is believed to have been sparked by people living in a nearby homeless encampment.
A Caltrans engineer was called to the scene to assist with structural and safety assessments as crews worked inside the confined space.
Officials said firefighter safety remained the top priority during the operation.
“While firefighters have removed a large amount of debris from the tunnel, burning construction timber and other unmovable materials will require sustained suppression,” LAFD spokeswoman Lyndsey Lantz said. “Crews are prepared for an extended operation.”
As the fire continued to burn Tuesday afternoon, authorities said they had concerns about the structural integrity of the freeway.
“We’re trying to get a sense of how thick that structural depth is on the freeway so we can see whether the fire has burned the underside of the freeway, which could impact the concrete, the rebar, the girders,” a Caltrans spokesperson told KTLA. “But until we can get in there, until it gets cool enough, until the Los Angeles Fire Department can get that fire knocked down, we can’t get a sense if it has even damaged the freeway and if a load of traffic can be on there.”
No injuries were reported.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
City News Service contributed to this report.
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