Governor Declares Emergency for July Los Angeles Freeway Damage

More than two months after a tanker truck crash and subsequent fire damaged a Los Angeles, Calif., freeway interchange, Gov. Jerry Brown has declared a state of emergency to free up funding to finish repairs.

The governor issued the declaration Friday for the July 13 crash when a truck flipped, spilled its gasoline and caught fire at a tunnel-like underpass connecting State Route 2 with Interstate 5 near Glendale.

The fire ignited nearby brush, and 7,500 gallons of gasoline flowed into the LA River and underground systems. No one was injured.

Brown’s declaration said the repairs are beyond the control of local agencies. It makes the project eligible for special federal funding.

Such declarations usually come closer to actual events like flooding or wildfires, but at times come later during recovery.