Two separate fires are making the commute through downtown Los Angeles a messy one on Monday morning, with Metro rail service in the area disrupted and officials urging drivers to avoid the area.
The fires were first reported at two separate buildings in the 1300 block of Flower Street just before 1:45 a.m. Monday, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Officials stated that the boarded-up building where the first fire broke out was the site of a previous burn.
By 2:15 a.m., crews were working in three commercial units and making good progress on the fires; it eventually took more than 100 firefighters an hour and 37 minutes to completely extinguish the flames, LAFD said.
Crews will continue to address remaining hot spots and conduct overhaul operations as the morning continues, and motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes while LAFD Arson investigators look into the causes of the fires.
Unfortunately, commuters looking to get through this part of DTLA on Monday morning will have a hard time taking the train, as two rail routes have been affected by the fires, according to Metro: The A (Blue) and E (Gold) lines.
“Because of a non-Metro-related fire adjacent to the Metro A and E lines between Pico Station and Venice Boulevard in downtown Los Angeles, rail service has been temporarily suspended on both lines in that area,” a Metro spokesperson confirmed to KTLA.
Monday morning’s Metro service will continue as follows, the spokesperson said:
- A Line trains going north will operate from 7th/Metro Center to Azusa
- A Line trains going south will operate from Grand Station to downtown Long Beach
- E Line trains going east will operate from 7th/Metro Center to Atlantic Station
- E Line trains going west will operate from Ortho/23rd Street Station to downtown Santa Monica
- Pico Station is closed due to overhead power lines being de-energized in the vicinity of the fires
A bus bridge shuttle is in operation from 7th/Metro Center to Ortho/23rd Street Station for the E Line and to Grand Station for the A Line, according to the Metro spokesperson.
The latest updates on Metro lines can be found on their social media and rider alert webpage.
