Blaze destroys building and spreads to major roads
A LARGE blaze in downtown Los Angeles destroyed an apartment building that was under construction and shut down two major freeways, the Los Angeles Fire Department and California Highway Patrol said.
Northbound lanes of the 110 freeway remained closed as well as the Temple, Broadway and Los Angeles off-ramps of the 101 freeway southbound.
The 101 is a major artery that runs up and down California.
The fire was extinguished, but firefighters reamained at the scene for several hours monitoring hot spots.
“It’s a large building, about a block long. The whole building is a total loss. The fire did spread into two neighbouring buildings,” said David Ortiz, a spokesman for the fire department. “The fire was going across the freeway.”
Ortiz said there were no reports of injuries or fatalities in the fire. He said more than 250 firefighters fought the fire which took more than three hours to bring under control.
The fire spread to two neighbouring buildings, including an office building on Figueroa Street, where several storeys were damaged by fire and water.
The blaze caused traffic chaos and rained down ash over a large area.
Investigations into the cause continue.
Fire battalion Chief Joseph Castro said.” The radiant heat was strong enough to burst windows in one building next door.”
Flames from the blaze were visible for several miles.