Breaking: Fire Ablaze At Storage Facility In Bellflower
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — The Los Angeles County Fire Department is responding to a fire at a storage facility off Artesia Boulevard and Woodruff Avenue.
Crews have been battling the blaze for more than eight hours now.
It was just too hot, too much fire activity in there for them to be able to do their job safely," said Jonathan Matheny with LA County Fire.
Crews were forced to take the defense and were unable to get close to the storage units on fire, which also threatened apartment buildings and neighboring businesses.
Officials said they were unsure what was inside the storage spaces that caused the fire to burn so hot and for so long.
"The heat reflects off of that metal and you're surrounded with that metal and all those doors and that's one of the reasons that it got so hot in that fire," Matheny said.
Crews have remained on the scene even as it dwindles due to fears that it could flare up again.
"We really don't want this thing to flare up again. Even if it's not active, we still have to really cool it down and continue to drown it to make sure that no breeze comes up with some oxygen and gets that thing going again," Matheny said.
According to authorities, there were 150 firefighters on the scene. There are no reported injuries.
The fire began at about 2:36 p.m. at a 4,000 sq foot Extra Space Storage Facility.
Artesia Boulevard is closed and is expected to remain so for hours.
This is a developing story. Please check back for details.