5th Fire Extinguished in Abandoned Building

Firefighters prevented a blaze in an abandoned commercial structure Wednesday from spreading to an occupied residential and commercial building next door, fire officials said.

The blaze was reported shortly after 2 p.m. in the 4200 block of South Central Avenue, said Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey. He said it took 70 firefighters 23 minutes to extinguish the flames.

Four recent fires have ravaged the building, according to Humphrey, who said the structure was scheduled for demolition this week.

Firefighters were concerned about protecting the building next door, which contains a combination market and liquor store downstairs and a residence upstairs, he said.

The cause of the fire was not immediately determined, he said, adding that there would be no dollar estimate of the loss because the building was scheduled for demolition.