10 Freeway fire ‘person of interest’ description, photos are released

Cal Fire officials are asking for the public's help in identifying and locating the man.

Authorities on Saturday, Nov. 18, released photos and a description of a man they want to question in connection with the fire that damaged a part of the 10 Freeway in Los Angeles last weekend, and they are asking for the public’s help in identifying and locating him.

The man was described as being 30 to 35 years old and 6-feet tall, according to Cal Fire. He was seen on surveillance wearing a black hoodie, blue shorts, gray shoes and a green scarf with a knee brace on his right knee and a dark-colored backpack.

Cal Fire officials also said his left leg may have been burned.

Officials said the man left the immediate area after the fire started and has not been located.

Los Angeles firefighters responded to a large pallet fire beneath the 10 Freeway near Alameda Street just before 12:30 a.m. Nov. 11. Firefighters put the fire out in about three hours but not before it caused significant damage to the support columns and bridge deck of the 10 Freeway between Alameda Street and Santa Fe Avenue, forcing officials to close down that portion of the freeway completely.

The damage and subsequent closure led officials to urge motorists commuting to downtown L.A. to consider public transportation to avoid traffic headaches.

Fire officials early this week determined the cause of the fire to be arson.

Local and state officials, after surveying the damage and getting crews to work on repairs quickly, said the freeway would reopen no later than Tuesday. Initial estimates had repairs taking three to five weeks.

Anyone with information on the person of interest and his whereabouts is asked to call Cal Fire’s Arson Hotline at 1-800-468-4408 or email the Arson and Bomb Unit at arsonbomb@fire.ca.gov.