Unattended backpack catches fire, closes part of I-5 Freeway

Unattended backpack catches fire, closes part of I-5 Freeway in Burbank
Unattended backpack catches fire, closes part of I-5 Freeway in Burbank Photo credit Scott Burt

Friday at approximately 1:30 PM, the Burbank Police Department received reports of an unattended backpack emitting smoke on Burbank Boulevard near the northbound I-5 Freeway onramp.

In the interest of public safety, Burkank PD, with assistance from CHP, shut down the freeway northbound along with Burbank Boulevard.

Police lieutenant Derek Green said in a statement, "Due (to) the suspicious nature of the item, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Arson and Explosives Detail is responding."

A bomb technician inspected the backpack revealing a small fire burning from inside that consumed the bag and turned it to ashes.

Firefighters doused the bag in water bringing the incident to a safe conclusion.

Burbank Boulevard reopened at around 4:20 PM, and the northbound freeway finally reopened at about 5 PM, but traffic was backlogged well into East Los Angeles.

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Featured Image Photo Credit: Scott Burt