Victim Critically Burned in Commercial Blaze
A fire fueled by chemicals erupted in a commercial building in the City of Commerce early Tuesday and spread to two adjacent businesses, critically burning one person, authorities said.
The fire at Certified Coatings in the 4600 block of East Washington Boulevard was reported at 8:53 a.m., county Fire Department Inspector Joel Harrison said. One burn victim, who was not immediately identified, was taken to Santa Marta Hospital in critical condition with second- and third-degree burns over 50% of the body, Harrison said.
About 60 firefighters battled the blaze, he said. Southern California Edison Co. was called to deal with wires that had been downed by the fire, and the Flood Control District was notified of possibly chemically contaminated runoff water flowing into flood control channels.
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