Investigation underway into massive commercial fire in Boyle Heights
Nearly 200 Los Angeles firefighters battled a massive blaze Thursday night in Boyle Heights that collapsed a building roof and wall, officials said.
The fire was reported in a one-story commercial building about 7:45 p.m. in the 1600 block of South Soto Street, said Erik Scott, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department.
The crescent-shaped building occupies about 70,000 square feet, and part of the structure had collapsed less than an hour into the fire, Scott said.
Footage broadcast on KCAL-TV Channel 9 showed flames tearing through the building, sending a plume of black smoke into the night sky.
Firefighters mounted tractor-trailers parked near the building in order to spray water onto the raging blaze.
It’s unclear what caused the fire. No injuries were reported.
LAFD officials worked with the Department of Water and Power to ensure that firefighters had adequate water pressure, Scott said.
The fire was out by 10 p.m., but crews were still at the scene Friday morning dousing hot spots and investigating the fire’s cause, LAFD spokeswoman Margaret Stewart said.
This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
For breaking news in California, follow @MattHjourno.
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