Massive fire rips through pair of Hollywood apartment complexes; 1 person injured
A massive Major Alarm torched two apartment complexes in Hollywood on Wednesday, displacing more than 20 people and burning at least 16 units.
According to Los Angeles Fire Department, the fire was first reported at around 5:20 p.m. after they learned of "two vehicles ablaze" at the carport of the apartment building located in the 7700 block of W. Hollywood Boulevard.
The fire is said to have extended to the building from there, quickly reaching the attic of the 32-unit building.
126 LAFD firefighters, as well as crews from Los Angeles County Fire Department, were on scene to battle the blaze, which was upgraded to Major Alarm status as it spread to the attic of one of the two "nearly identical side-by-side apartment buildings," firefighters said.
Large flames and plumes of smoke could be seen extending from the first building to catch fire, causing "severe damage to that attic and sixteen apartment units on the second floor, including structural compromise and partial collapse," said a statement from LAFD.
The second building to catch fire suffered extreme damage to the attic as well. Firefighters say that a third building, located to the southwest of where the fire originated, sustained smoke damage.
The entire firefight took a little over an hour and a half before crews reported that they had contained the situation. They will remain on scene over night however to ensure that they are able to take care of hotspots.
At least 22 people were displaced by the massive blaze, with Red Cross working to assist them with temporary lodging for the near future.
One person was found inside of the building and had to be rescued by firefighters as she is "non-ambulatory" meaning she is unable to walk.
She has been taken to a nearby hospital for smoke inhalation, but is said to be in fair condition.
One firefighter was injured during the firefight, suffering a cut to the hand before having it treated and returning to work.
A cause of the fire remains under investigation.
