Long Beach drivers got a rude surprise Monday morning when a massive debris fire sent a thick column of black smoke over the west side of the city, slowing traffic and drawing a heavy emergency response near downtown.
The blaze broke out at the Long Beach Public Transfer Lot at 311 E. Ocean Blvd. around 9:40 a.m., where debris inside a 40-yard trash bin went up in flames. Crews moved in quickly, and dozens of firefighters and other emergency personnel swarmed the scene while nearby streets were detoured. No injuries were reported, and the cause is still under investigation, according to CBS Los Angeles.
The plumes of black smoke were visible for miles, prompting neighbors and commuters to post photos and video as the fire burned. Crews on scene requested foam to help knock down the stubborn flames, as reported by the Long Beach Post. Long Beach Fire Department spokesperson Dennis Garrett told the paper the stretch west of the L.A. River has become an “unofficial dumping ground” used by unhoused residents, and said similar fires have happened there before.
Traffic Impacts
The fire did not just dominate the skyline; it also tied up the morning commute. The California Highway Patrol shut down the northbound I-710 off-ramp to Pacific Coast Highway while firefighters worked the scene, forcing drivers into detours and slowing traffic. Commutedash's incident log shows a SigAlert was issued for I-710 at PCH during the response, according to Commutedash.
Why This Matters
The industrial stretch along the L.A. River where the fire broke out has already been on the city's radar. Long Beach is in the midst of a multi-year, $17.4 million effort to move people living along the river into shelter and services and to reduce encampments and related hazards, the Post reports. As an early step in that plan, officials previously rented a 60-bed motel on PCH to help transition people off the riverbank, according to the Long Beach Post.
Fire and city officials say the investigation into what sparked the blaze is ongoing and that more information will be released when available. The transfer lot is expected to remain closed until crews finish clearing the scene and the affected highway ramp can safely reopen, officials told CBS Los Angeles.
