A large fire in a homeless encampment burned for about 40 minutes Wednesday morning near the Ronald Reagan (118) Freeway before firefighters extinguished the flames.
Crews responded to the encampment just west of the freeway, near Desmond Street and San Fernando Road, about 6:20 a.m., according to Margaret Stewart of the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Because of the location of the fire, water access was limited and firefighters established hand lines from both the freeway and an additional access point closer to the flames, Stewart said.
Equipment on the freeway affected traffic on the westbound lanes of the Ronald Reagan Freeway near the San Fernando Road exit and would continue to do so until firefighters cleared the scene, she said.
A total of 41 firefighters extinguished the flames in 38 minutes and a knockdown was called at 7 a.m., she said.
No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire was under investigation.