Richard Vogel/AP
The damaged portion of the highway, which typically sees more than 300,000 daily drivers, will reopen Monday.
CNN
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A portion of Interstate 10 in downtown Los Angeles has reopened ahead of schedule after being closed to traffic following a massive fire earlier this month, as police seek to identify a man seen near where the flames started.
The closed part of the highway, which usually sees more than 300,000 daily driversis open to automobile traffic, the California Highway Patrol said.
“Traffic is now flowing in all five lanes in each direction on I-10, ahead of tomorrow morning’s commute and ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday,” Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office said in a statement. social media post Sunday night.
Authorities had previously announced that the road would open on Tuesday.
The vital transportation corridor was closed as crews worked to clear the site and assess and repair damage following the Nov. 11 fire, which broke out at a nearby tank farm and spread is propagated under an elevated part of the highway.
Authorities believe the fire was set intentionally.
CalFire released two images and a description of a man seen on video at the location on Alameda Street when the fire broke out.
The person was last seen wearing a black hoodie, blue shorts, a black backpack and was wearing a green scarf, according to a CalFire news release.
The individual “also had a knee brace on his right knee,” according to CalFire. “The subject appeared to have visible burns to his left leg. The subject then leaves the immediate area and cannot be located.
CalFire
The person was last seen wearing a black hoodie, blue shorts, a black backpack and was wearing a green scarf, according to CalFire.
Newsom said during a news conference Sunday morning that officials received potentially useful information after the person of interest’s images were released Saturday.
Last week, Newsom said a preliminary investigation determined the fire was started with “malicious intent” and was “started intentionally.” State Fire Marshal Daniel Berlant said last week it was unclear how many people were involved.
The fire was first reported to a 200 foot by 200 foot storage yard then quickly spread under the highway, the firefighters said.
