State of emergency declared in Los Angeles after fire engulfs interstate

Residents advised to use public transit as hazardous materials crews cleared burned matter and engineers examined damages

Los Angeles motorists should expect traffic snarls indefinitely as crews assess how much damage was caused by a raging fire that closed a major elevated interstate near downtown, officials said Sunday.

Gavin Newsom, the state governor, declared a state of emergency Saturday afternoon and directed the state department of transportation to request assistance from the federal government.