Fire on Pesticide Truck Closes L.A. Street in Rush Hour
An abandoned truck trailer loaded with toxic pesticides burst into flames early today, forcing the evacuation of 45 people and the rush-hour closure of a portion of La Brea Avenue in Los Angeles.
City fire spokesman Larry Ford said a truck and two trailers were stolen during the weekend. One of the trailers--both left parked on La Brea near Washington Boulevard by thieves who drove off in the truck--caught fire at 4:15 a.m., he said.
Firefighters dousing the blaze determined that the materials inside were hazardous and evacuated two nearby homes and the Edmar Motor Inn, Ford said. The southbound lanes of La Brea were reopened several hours after the fire erupted, but the northbound lanes were scheduled to be closed until mid-afternoon as a disposal crew removed the pesticides.
The cause of the fire, which did an estimated $23,000 damage to the trailer, was unknown.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
