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Overturned fuel tanker ignites fire in Boyle Heights

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A flaming tanker truck that threatened a Boyle Heights neighborhood Friday has been extinguished, but not before a river of fuel flowing from the big rig caught fire and burned a building.

The building, said Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey, was heavily damaged. It was one of three buildings damaged in the late-afternoon incident.

Firefighters spent nearly 90 minutes fighting the stubborn spot fires and spraying water and foam on the tanker trunk in an effort to keep it cool.

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Los Angeles firefighters initially rushed into the neighborhood after receiving reports that a tanker had overturned about 3:30 p.m. in the 2600 block of East 8th Street, fire officials said.

The flames and heat ignited a nearby car, which was reduced by the flames to a charred skeleton, broadcast video on KTLA showed.

The blaze also ignited the attic of a home. Firefighters could be seen chopping through the roof with axes to get to the heat source. A power pole also caught fire.

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It was not immediately clear whether there were any injuries. Firefighters were monitoring the water runoff to ensure it did not enter the Los Angeles River.

For breaking California news, follow @JosephSerna.

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