LOS ANGELES (CNS) – Firefighters knocked down a blaze Thursday in downtown Los Angeles after rescuing homeless people from a burning four-story, nearly 100-year-old vacant building.
Crews responded around 11:20 a.m. Thursday to the 1200 block of South Hope Street, near the intersection of West Pico Boulevard, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
The fire was extinguished in just under two hours, with no injuries reported, the department said.
The fire department classified the incident as a major emergency, deploying 17 fire companies to the scene.
“Crews placed ground ladders to the fire escapes to assist unhoused persons exiting the vacant structure,” the department said.
East and west traffic on Pico Boulevard was temporarily closed, and officials advised drivers to avoid Pico and Hope in the downtown area.
Firefighters were expected to remain on the scene for an extended period.
The cause of the fire was not immediately known.
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