School Bus Fire Shuts Down LA Freeway

The 210 Freeway in the northeastern San Fernando Valley was shut down Wednesday after an electric school bus caught fire near an underpass Wednesday afternoon.

The fire was reported at around 9:20 a.m. Wednesday on the 11460 block of West Foothill Boulevard, near the Hansen Dam, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

No children were on board the Los Angeles Unified School District at the time of the fire. The driver was hospitalized for treatment of smoke inhalation, the LAFD said.

The fire prompted the total closure of the freeway.

The eastbound freeway was shut down between the 118 Freeway and Osborne Street. The westbound freeway was shut down between Wheatland Avenue and Osborne Street, according to a Sigalert.

Foothill Boulevard was also closed in both directions at the 210 Freeway underpass.

Crews knocked down the bulk of the fire within two hours.

"LAFD HazMat Units will continue to monitor air quality as well as water runoff due to the bus being powered by lithium ion batteries. The overhaul procedures at this incident will likely continue for the next 3-4 hours," the LAFD said at around 11 a.m.