10 Freeway fire: Suspected cause released

10 Freeway fire believed to be caused by arson

The massive fire that shut down parts of the 10 Freeway in Los Angeles is believed to be caused by arson.

LOS ANGELES - California Governor Gavin Newsom says arson is suspected as the preliminary cause of the 10 Freeway fire that broke out in Los Angeles over the weekend.

"There was malice intent that this fire occurred within the fence line of the facility you see behind me that it was arson and that it was done and set intentionally," Newsom said Monday afternoon.

The revelation came after a massive fire broke out just before 12:30 a.m. Saturday in a pallet yard in the 1700 block of East 14th Street in downtown Los Angeles.

As of Monday night, no arrests have been announced in connection to the 10 Freeway fire, but Newsom said that the fire was set within the fenceline of the storage business operating below the freeway, which was littered with vehicles, pallets and other materials.

Newsom said Cal Fire investigators who completed their initial probe Sunday night determined "that it was arson, and that it was done and set intentionally. The determination of who was responsible is an investigation that is ongoing."

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He said investigators had some preliminary tips, but he urged anyone with information about the start of the blaze to come forward and call a hotline at 800-468-4408.

"Arson appears to be the likely ignition for this fire," Newsom said. "That ignition (point and cause) was determined with precision by the fire marshal, Cal Fire and their teams."

Who leased land at site of 10 Freeway fire?

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said the company that leased the land at the site of the 10 Freeway fire is Apex Development Inc., which the state is currently in litigation with. The company also has leased several other sites across the state.

Mayor Karen Bass stressed there was no initial information that would link the fire to homeless people in the area, and she urged the public not to jump to that conclusion. She said there were 16 homeless people living in the immediate vicinity of the fire area, and they have all since been placed in housing.

"There is no reason to assume the origin of this fire ... is because there were unhoused individuals nearby," Bass said.

Local and state officials are preparing for a potential long-term closure of the 10 Freeway, and over the weekend, Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency to help facilitate cleanup and repairs.

Detours

Until then, traffic through the area will be impacted heavily. Caltrans and the Los Angeles Department of Transportation have announced the following routes to avoid the 10 Freeway closure:

Driving through downtown:

For those traveling east:

Exit the freeway at Alameda Street and 16th Street. To get back on the freeway, head north on Alameda, east on Olympic Boulevard, and get back on the 10 East on the approach to Lemon Street.
Or, head north on Alameda, east on 7th and get on the 5 Freeway

For those traveling west: