A fast-moving brush fire flared up along the shoulder of the I-105 (Century Freeway) in South Los Angeles on Monday, briefly turning an ordinary drive into a smoky, nerve-testing commute for anyone passing by.
Drivers caught video from the lanes as flames chewed through brush right next to the freeway, with a column of smoke rising over traffic. The fire triggered a quick response from emergency crews and slowed cars in the area while firefighters moved in.
According to CBS News Los Angeles, a short clip from the scene shows flames burning immediately adjacent to the freeway and smoke drifting over the lanes. The station identified the location simply as South L.A.
Roadside fires are a familiar fight along the 105
The Los Angeles Fire Department’s alerts show that crews have been called out multiple times in recent years for burning vegetation along the Glenn Anderson (I-105) corridor. Those updates often note when firefighters have “stopped forward progress” on these kinds of incidents.
Typical responses bring in engine companies and support units that work to keep flames from creeping toward traffic or nearby rail lines. The department posts incident details and maps on its alert feed so drivers, commuters, and reporters can track what is happening in real time.
How even a small shoulder fire can wreck the commute
Even when a blaze starts small beside the 105, the ripple effects can be big. A 2018 collision near Prairie Avenue sparked a tanker fire that sent a fireball across the freeway, shut the road down for hours, and forced changes to transit service, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Events like that are a reminder that flames next to the highway, even when contained quickly, can still trigger SigAlerts, rolling backups, and spillover traffic on surface streets.
Where to look for traffic and safety updates
Drivers trying to figure out whether to brave the 105 or bail to side streets can check Caltrans QuickMap for live lane-status information. The Los Angeles Fire Department’s alert and social feeds also carry updates on closures, incident locations, and responder activity.
Local traffic apps and news outlets will share SigAlert notices and lane closure information as agencies release it.
Officials have not yet released details about what sparked Monday’s fire or whether anyone was hurt. This story will be updated if agencies provide additional information.
