LA Fire - A fire at a 7-storey building under construction in downtown Los Angeles has forced authorities to shut down Interstate 110 and portions of nearby 101.
The Los Angeles Fire Department has revealed that over 250 firefighters are trying to contain the LA fire, which was first reported around 1:20 a.m. at the Da Vinci apartment complex, located at 906 North Fremont St.
Although no injuries or deaths have been recorded, the LA fire, which gutted a 1.3 million square-foot-building, has spread and also destroyed two nearby buildings.
Local sources say the building was still under construction and had wooden frames. Despite efforts from hundreds of firefighters, the flame quickly incinerated the wooden structure and spread to a nearby 16-storey building.
About 3 floors of the neighboring building, located at 221 North Figueroa, is said to have been completely damaged by the LA fire, while 14 floors were also destroyed by water.
Reports indicate that the fire in LA also spread to a nearby building used by the Los Angeles County Health Department on 313 North Figueroa Street. The 3-storey building is said to have sustained radiant heat damage, including broken glasses and melted blinds as a result of the LA fire.
"This is an historic fire, what we as firefighters would call a career fire," Fire Department spokesman David Ortiz said. "It's huge. I really can't remember a building fire this big and I have been with the department for 13 years."
Meanwhile, LA Fire Department Chief Ralph Terrazas told the press that due to the imminent threat of the wooden structure's collapse, the department requested the California Highway Patrol to issue a SigAlert. This was to ensure that the northbound Harbor 110 freeway was shut down all the way to the northbound Hollywood 101 freeway.
The shut down also extended to the southbound Hollywood Freeway at Alvarado Street and Union Avenue, which was reopened shortly after.
Authorities are reportedly treating the fire in LA as a criminal fire and an investigation into the blaze has been opened. Arson investigators and dogs trained to detect flammable substances were on the scene searching for the cause of the LA fire. Officials from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were also on the scene to assist investigators.
