Wildfires slow commutes in north Los Angeles County
The wildfires raging along the Ventura County line added to Friday commuting headaches for many Los Angeles County residents, according to traffic data.
The Springs fire, which started Thursday around 6:30 a.m., has scorched more than 18,000 acres between Pacific Coast Highway and the 101 Freeway. Crews had the blaze 20% contained as of 4:15 p.m. Friday.
During the morning rush, drivers shifted inland to avoid the smoke, according to vehicle data-tracking company Inrix. At 9 a.m., the delay on the southbound 101 Freeway was 50% longer than usual, the firm said.
The typical 10-minute, nine-mile trip between Camarillo and Thousand Oaks took twice as long. The evening commute was looking bad as well, the company said.
“Los Angeles is already a tough place to leave on Friday afternoons,†traffic analyst Jamie Holter said in a statement. “When you add road closures, smoke, evacuations and hot weather to the mix, drivers should prepare for an even longer commute.â€
Along the 134 Highway in Glendale, where another fire broke out Friday afternoon near its intersection with the 2 Freeway, Inrix showed traffic slowing to a stop.
Inrix gets its data by pulling information from 70 million cars, taxis and other vehicles, as well as smartphones enabled with GPS technology. The 70 million figure includes drivers who use their free mobile app, as well as companies that own car fleets — including taxis, shuttles and trucks — equipped with GPS trackers.
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Map: Southern California fires
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