Fire Racks Old Federal Reserve Building in Downtown L.A.

Firefighters cut through metal grates and smashed windows in the Federal Reserve Bank building in downtown Los Angeles in an attempt to douse the flames that were shooting through the historic Art Deco structure Monday night.

They arrived at the building, at Olympic Boulevard and Olive Street, about 7:30 p.m., said Fire Capt. Bill Wells. Flames shot out of the two-story annex, and huge clouds of smoke billowed from the five story, 75-foot main structure.

About 175 firefighters worked late into the night attempting to control the blaze.

The building currently has no tenants, but fire officials initially were concerned that transients might have set the fire and still be inside. But firefighters could find no one.

“This fire is a dangerous one to fight because it’s an old concrete building, and concrete holds the heat and smoke,” Wells said. “And because the building hasn’t been occupied for while, and there’s a lot of debris inside, it’s hard to get around in there.”

Because of the intense heat, firefighters attacked the blaze from outside.

Dozens of firefighters, along with 22 engines, were lined up on the street dousing the blaze.

Although the fire was in the center of downtown, no other buildings were threatened, Wells said.

“We’ve got it surrounded,” he said.

One firefighter suffered minor injuries, Wells said.

The burning building is near newer Federal Reserve offices. Both technically are part of the Federal Reserve Bank in San Francisco.