Over 100 firefighters sent to battle fire in downtown Los Angeles

A fire damaged a two-story commercial building in downtown Los Angeles Friday, but no one was hurt.

Firefighters sent to the 600 block of South San Pedro Street at 6:41 a.m. extinguished the fire in 43 minutes, said Margaret Stewart of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

More than 100 firefighters were sent to the battle the flames, and the incident was classified as a “major emergency fire,” Stewart said.

“Firefighters made quick progress against fire encountered on the first floor; however the blaze had already extended from the (second floor) into the attic,” Stewart said in a statement.

“Truck companies on the roof conducted vertical ventilation, getting heavy fire from the holes and venting some of the heat while fire attack made their way up to conduct direct attack on the attic fire,” Stewart said.

“Their coordinated efforts alleviated the need to go to a defensive mode and prevented the total loss of the structure,” Stewart said.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.

“Preliminary information is this was an outside fire which extended in,” Stewart said. “However, protocol for a major emergency fire calls for LAFD Arson investigators to conduct a cause investigation and they are en route to do so.”

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