Arson Likely Caused 10 Freeway Disaster (And Other Headlines)

Malicious intent could be behind the massive fire that shut down the 10 Freeway this weekend, officials said Monday.

Gov. Gavin Newsom told reporters that “arson appears to be the likely ignition for this fire.” The investigation is still ongoing.

What happens now?

For now, L.A. city leaders are again warning of major traffic congestion after “extensive damage” from the fire that erupted Saturday morning in downtown.

Yesterday, my colleague Yusra Farzan talked to Angelenos who sat in hours of traffic on their way to work via other roads.

Mark Williams, who travels to DTLA from Manhattan Beach, called the 110 freeway a “parking lot” on Monday.

In a news conference Sunday, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass called for patience from Los Angeles drivers. "Unfortunately, there's no reason to think that this is going to be over in a couple of days. We cannot give you an estimate of time right now," she said.

California Highway Patrol warns that traffic diverted from the 10 Freeway closure will also impact the 5 Freeway, the 60, and the 101.

Read the latest here.

Stay safe, L.A. There’s more news below — just keep reading.

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Wait! One more thing...

Rebuilding lost hiking trails

Volunteers with Lowelifes Respectable Citizens' Club work to restore a trail in the Angeles National Forest.

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Erin Stone

/

LAist

)

If you’re anything like me, you love to hike, but sometimes you take SoCal’s beautiful trails for granted.

It’s not too late to change that, friends. In the aftermath of wildfires that have left beloved spots damaged and unusable, volunteers are stepping up to the plate.

These groups donate their time to rebuild trails with the U.S. Forest Service, which has been hampered in recent years by staff shortages and funding issues.

My colleagues Evan Jacoby and Erin Stone strapped on their hiking boots and went up to Mount Wilson to report on these efforts.

They also got their hands dirty and helped with the restoration themselves. Read about it here or listen to the How To LA podcast episode.