A spectacular fire raged today at a commercial building in the garment district of downtown Los Angeles. Firefighters battled to keep the flames from spreading to other structures. Firefighters were sent to the 800 block of South San Pedro Street at 5:41 a.m. (Perry C. Riddle / LAT)
A Los Angels firefighter waits for water as flames rise from a commercial building on the 800 block of San Pedro Street in the garment district of downtown Los Angeles. (Perry C. Riddle / LAT)
Firefighters on an an adjoining rooftop direct water onto the fire. Several businesses were destroyed. (Perry C. Riddle / LAT)
George Ruelas, right, manager of a florist shop at 8th and San Pedro, presents two roses to a LAPD officer and her partner, who were handling security at the fire scene. (Perry C. Riddle / LAT)
A firefighter waits for water as flames rise behind him. (Perry C. Riddle / LAT)
A firefighter directs water onto the fire from the top of a ladder. (Perry C. Riddle / LAT)
About 160 firefighters fought the blaze in the garment district. (Don Kelsen / LAT)
City firefighters monitor the blaze from nearby rooftops. (Don Kelsen / LAT)
Fireman Ben Banks of Task Force 11 looks at the damaged caused by the early morning fire. No injuries were reported. (Gary Friedman / LAT)
A fireman walks across hoses on San Pedro Street in the aftermath of an early morning fire which engulfed clothing & fabric stores in the garment district. A residential hotel near the burning building was evacuated. (Gary Friedman / LAT)
An unidentified man walks near fabric and clothing stores damaged by the fire. (Gary Friedman / LAT)
Fireman work inside the YES TEX, Inc. store. (Gary Friedman / LAT)
Andrew Bradshaw, in a wheelchair, views the aftermath of the early morning fire which engulfed clothing & fabric stores. (Gary Friedman / LAT)
