Fires damaged two houses in the Highland Park area Tuesday, but firefighters prevented the flames from spreading to a nearby apartment building.
Firefighters sent to the 200 block of North Avenue 53 at about 9:45 a.m. extinguished the flames in one hour and 10 minutes, said Amy Bastman of the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Three firefighters were examined at the scene for medical problems that were not life-threatening, Bastman said. Two were taken to a hospital for treatment of heat exhaustion. The third was treated at the scene and released.
Both residences were Craftsman-style houses and were more than 100 years old, Bastman said. The fire began in one house and spread to the other. The cause was under investigation.
Wood siding contributed to the rapid spread of flames, and the roof of one house collapsed, forcing firefighters into a defensive mode, Bastman said.
