Compressed natural gas trucks catch fire off westbound 105 Freeway in South LA

SOUTH LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Several natural gas-powered trucks erupted in flames near the 105 Freeway in South Los Angeles, sending up a thick plume of smoke and prompting the brief closure of all westbound lanes Monday morning.

The fire was reported around 3:30 a.m. near the Vermont Avenue freeway off-ramp, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. An outside debris fire spread to 3-4 trucks fueled by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), fire officials added



The large flames were significantly subdued by 5 a.m., but firefighters remained on scene to extinguish lingering hotspots.

At one point, all westbound lanes of the freeway were closed but they have since been reopened.



No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire has not been determined.

Meantime, the company that owns the trucks told Eyewitness News they believe the fire was started by people at a nearby homeless encampment. Some neighbors said the same thing.

"There was another fire. This is the second time the trucks burned," said neighbor Robert Martinez.



Monday's incident is similar to a massive explosion in which nine firefighters were injured, two critically, last year in Wilmington.