Arson Investigation Underway At Westlake Senior Living Facility
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Arson investigators are working to determine the cause of a fire that erupted at a senior living facility in the Westlake community, LAFD Spokesman Erik Scott said Tuesday.
The fire erupted shortly before 9 p.m. Monday in the 400 block of South Union Avenue.
Upon their arrival to the 15-story high-rise, firefighters were quickly met by multiple challenges.
Crews located fire showing from the fourth floor inside the Union Tower Apartments.
Around 150 firefighters were able to extinguish the flames in just 42 minutes.
A 75-year-old man, a 75-year-old woman and an 80-year-old woman were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment of critical burns and smoke inhalation.
An update on their conditions was not immediately known.
No firefighters sustained injuries.
A preliminary investigation revealed the building did not have sprinklers, and there were no self-closing doors to assist in containing the smoke and fire.
Residents who lived above the floor where the fire broke out were ordered to shelter in place. Others were evacuated from the building.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.