Causes of Drugstore Fires Still Under Investigation

Arson investigators Monday worked to determine the cause of fires that broke out at two Thrifty drugstores within a 30-minute period, the larger of which injured three firefighters and damaged a neighboring bank. Officials have not indicated whether the fires are linked.

The first blaze, reported at a Thrifty store at 104 W. Anaheim St. in Wilmington about 1:40 p.m. Sunday, caused an estimated $2.5 million in damage, said Dave Holcomb of the Los Angeles City Fire Department. Nearly 100 firefighters were unable to keep the blaze from spreading to a Bank of America branch.

The second blaze broke out less than two miles away at a Thrifty at 501 S. Gaffey St. in San Pedro at 2:09 p.m. About 25 firefighters extinguished the flames by 2:33 p.m., and no injuries were reported, a dispatcher said. Damage in that blaze was estimated at $250,000.