A Sunday morning blaze on the 5 Freeway in Arleta caused concern after a truck hauling used cooking oil caught fire, necessitating quick action by the Los Angeles Fire Department. The fire, reportedly starting in the cab section of the tractor-trailer, occurred on the northbound side around 8:30 a.m., as confirmed by the LAFD. The driver of the vehicle managed to escape unharmed, avoiding what could have been a severe incident had the flames spread to the trailer carrying the oil.
The situation drew the attention of commuters who witnessed black smoke billowing into the air, imagery captured in videos shared on the Citizen App. A lane of the freeway was temporarily closed during the incident by California Highway Patrol officers, but was reopened shortly afterward, KTLA reported.
According to the LAFD, the fire was fully extinguished with no reported injuries. The cause of the fire remains unknown, with no immediate explanation available at the time of reporting.
