State of emergency in Los Angeles after devastating fire

Drivers in the area will face unending traffic chaos as fire crews assess the extent of damage from a raging fire near the city center, Los Angeles officials said.

A state of emergency was previously declared by California Governor Gavin Newsom on the afternoon of November 11. He also directed the state's transportation agency to actively handle the problem and seek government assistance.

The closure comes as a massive fire has disrupted traffic on Interstate 10, which runs above warehouses in downtown Los Angeles.

A raging fire has shut down Interstate 10.

Crews are still working to clear debris from underneath the freeway to make room for engineers to deal with the situation, Newsom said at a news conference, but he could not provide a timeline for when the freeway would reopen.

Workers are encouraged to work from home or take public transportation into downtown Los Angeles, according to The Independent.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. Fire officials said the fire, reported at around 12:20 a.m. on November 11, spread through two warehouses in an industrial park under the highway, burning hazardous materials. No injuries were reported.

More than 160 firefighters responded to the blaze, which covered 3 hectares, the equivalent of about six football fields. Highway columns were charred and chipped, while guardrails along the road were disfigured by the fire.

Governor Newsom said on November 12 that the state will sue the owner of the storage facility where the fire started. He said the lease had expired and the owner was in arrears on the subletting of the space.

Toks Omishakin, head of the California Department of Transportation, said companies building storage yards under freeways is a common and frequent occurrence across the state, and the fire has prompted a review of the practice.

At least 16 homeless people living under the highway were evacuated and taken to shelters.

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