LOS ANGELES—A fire that began in a rubbish yard spread into commercial-residential buildings near Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles on June 22, sending thick smoke into the air and creating confusion as people gathered outside the burning buildings, and some ran inside.
The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) responded around 3:10 p.m. to the 700 block of South San Pedro Street on reports of a commercial building fire with heavy flames showing, according to Nicholas Prange of the LAFD.
At least 148 firefighters responded to the scene, initially pouring water onto the flames burning in a rubbish yard to the rear of a row of buildings with commercial businesses on the ground floor and residential units above. The raging fire eventually spread into the adjacent buildings.
Crews on the scene requested assistance from the Los Angeles Police Department for crowd control, reporting that some people were running into the burning structures—possibly residents or business owners looking to retrieve belongings.
One person was eventually taken to a hospital for treatment of minor smoke inhalation, officials said. Crews on the scene reported that about 30 residents may have been displaced by the blaze. It was unclear how many buildings were damaged.
