Hours after a fire underneath forced a closure of the Harbor (110) Freeway in Wilmington, Los Angeles City Councilman Tim McOsker introduced a motion Tuesday calling for stronger safety measures, oversight and improved coordination between city departments and Caltrans.
On Monday night, the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a fire that erupted in an access portal beneath the freeway between Harry Bridges Boulevard and Channel Street, near San Pedro and the Port of Los Angeles.
Fire officials believe the emergency began due to a homeless encampment. LAFD called in a Caltrans highway engineer to assist with the emergency and assess possible damage to the freeway.
McOsker said the fire raised serious concerns about public safety, structural integrity and the security of spaces that should not be publicly accessible. He said it underscored a broader pattern of hazardous conditions occurring in and around freeway infrastructure across the L.A. region.
“What we saw today was a clear breakdown in communication from the state to the city,” McOsker said in a statement. “The California Department of Transportation needs to be a true partner with the city, not just in responding after the fact, but in being proactive, securing these spaces, and working with our emergency notification systems. The delays we saw today are unacceptable, and we need to make sure it does not happen again.”
McOsker’s motion would direct the LAFD, Emergency Department and L.A. Department of Transportation to report on Caltrans’ responsibility, if any, to install and maintain fire detection, warning and emergency notification systems within freeway infrastructure such as tunnels, underpasses and similar spaces. He also wants the agencies to identify any existing gaps in early warning, monitoring and communications systems.
The report would also examine how frequently such areas are inspected and maintained, particularly in confined or restricted-access spaces.
The motion further requests that Caltrans provide a comprehensive overview of its current protocols for identifying, monitoring, and mitigating fire risks in enclosed or semi-enclosed areas within the freeway system.
McOsker’s motion is expected to be heard by the Public Safety Committee for consideration before a full vote by the City Council.