Fire tore through a commercial building in downtown Los Angeles late this afternoon, forcing crews to battle the flames from outside the structure, but no injuries were reported.
The blaze, which became a major emergency structure fire, was reported at 5:35 p.m. at a one-story building in the 1400 block of South Long Beach Avenue, near the Santa Monica (10) Freeway, according to Margaret Stewart of the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Flames could be seen leaping through the building's roof as crews arrived on scene. More than 140 firefighters battled the flames and worked to keep them from spreading to buildings on three sides of the affected structure. Knockdown was called after a firefight that lasted an hour and 22 minutes, Stewart said. Downed power lines complicated firefighters efforts and Los Angeles Department of Water and Power crews were called to the scene, she said.
Some crews remained on scene conducting overhaul operations. The building housed a printing business, a man who identified himself as the owner said. Arson investigators were dispatched to determine the cause of the blaze, Stewart said.
