Northbound 110 Freeway remains shut down in San Pedro after fire erupts in tunnel
Officials say the freeway closure could remain in place through Wednesday.
SAN PEDRO, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The northbound side of the 110 Freeway remains shut down in San Pedro hours after a trash fire broke out in a tunnel that runs under the freeway.
The incident was reported just before 9 p.m. Monday, according to the California Highway Patrol. Crews remained on scene through Tuesday morning as the flames continued to smolder in what was described as a pedestrian passageway.
During a 6 p.m. press conference, officials indicated lanes will remain shut down through the night and an assessment will be done Wednesday morning.
"Our aim is to open the lanes as early as we can. Our aim is tomorrow," Caltrans spokesperson Lauren Wonder said at the news conference.
WATCH: Officials provide update on tunnel fire that shut down 110 Freeway in San Pedro
Officials are still trying to determine if the roadway is structurally sound due to the heat and flames.
"Multiple agencies including Caltrans and the Los Angeles Fire Department are presently removing a large volume of water and foam used to extinguish the blaze, which ended earlier today," Caltrans said in a statement. "Once the tunnel is cleared of water and debris, structural investigators will utilize equipment to safely assess the highway structure for potential damage caused by the fire."
There is no estimated time for reopening.
Both sides of the freeway were fully shut down until southbound lanes were reopened shortly before 9 a.m. The closure of northbound lanes remains in effect between Harry Bridges Boulevard and Channel Street, and it could remain in effect through Wednesday, officials said.
Assistant Chief Carlos Calvillo with the Los Angeles Fire Department described the firefight as difficult, saying one of the main challenges was getting water to the freeway.
"We have the resource down below here providing a water supply to the resources that are actually on top of the freeway," he said. "And then those members up there are actually able to put the firefighting lines place. So he's literally down here feeding the engines that are up there, kind of in series running those pumping apparatus to get water on the fire."
Calvillo added there is concern about the structural integrity of the freeway after it was assessed by a structural engineer from Caltrans, meaning fire crews are not able to directly enter the tunnel.
The other concern is how the fire started. The tunnel is near a homeless encampment and fire officials say a lot of the items that are burning are from that encampment.
"Mattresses, clothing, things of that nature," said Capt. Tony Tubbs. "Being that is overstuffed, it is making it difficult to try and access that fire, making it a very deep-seeded, very stubborn fire to get water.
Los Angeles Mayor Bass said homeless encampments are a source of fires.
"It's my understanding that 30% of the fires that LAFD has to fight are related to homelessness," Bass said. "The solution is to get our people housed."
No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
