Firefighters worked for hours Thursday to knock down a fire that burned an abandoned church west of downtown Los Angeles.
More than 130 firefighters responded to the fire in the 700 block of West Washington Boulevard in the University Park area near the 10 and 110 freeway interchange. The Los Angeles Fire Department said the building served as a mortuary when it was built in 1924 before it became home to several worship groups.
The fire was contained to the 19,800-square-foot building, which was red-tagged after inspectors determined it was unsafe to occupy.
There were no immediate reports of injuries.
The multi-agency House of Worship Task Force was sent to the scene, and the cause of the fire was under investigation.
Driver were asked to avoid Washington Boulevard between Figueroa Street and Union Avenue. The fire is expected to smolder into the afternoon.
