Firefighters battled a large commercial fire that spread apparently spread from a tree to the business and multiple structures Wednesday in a Compton neighborhood
A Los Angeles County Fire spokesperson said the fire was initially reported as a tree fire, which was pushed by winds into the nearby commercial structure. The bulk of the fire appeared to be in a commercial structure near the intersection of Alameda Street and East Rosecrans Avenue.
A passerby initially reported a fire burning in a tree near Alameda Street and East Rosecrans Avenue around 4:30 p.m., fire officials said.
With the Southland in the tail end of a Santa Ana wind event, gusty conditions quickly pushed the flames into the industrial yard, sparking an inferno as flames chewed through flammable materials stacked in the yard and inside metal-roof structures on the property.
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Nearby residents were evacuated.
Multiple fire departments from the area were involved in the firefight and the water department had to increase water pressure to assist in battling the flames, a spokesperson with the Compton Fire Department said. Unable to access the property due to the raging inferno, ladder crews were relegated to a surround-and-drown attack, pouring water on the flames from above.
The winds, however, continued pushing embers from the blaze into adjacent neighborhoods, where at least three structures were damaged, including one several blocks away. Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to the neighborhood and were evacuating some homes. It was unclear how many residents were affected.
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There were no immediate reports of any injuries.
Sheriff's officials urged residents to avoid the area, announcing a series of road closures around the blaze.
