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Police seeking arsonist who ignited massive fire at Chinatown apartment complex

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CBS News Los Angeles Live

Police are searching for an arsonist who they believe sparked a massive fire that left multiple people injured in Chinatown last week. 

The blaze was reported on Friday at around 3:45 a.m. at a three-story apartment building that was under construction in the 700 block of new Deport Street, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. 

"Four other occupied residential, multi-story apartment complexes were exposed to the fire," a statement from the Los Angeles Police Department said. 

Because of the scale of the fire, mass evacuations of all occupied apartments were conducted at the time. 

"An elderly tenant sustained a smoke inhalation injury, and another female tenant sustained burn injuries to her hands and arms," the LAPD statement said. "Two firefighters suffered minor injuries."

While the cause of the fire remains under investigation, both LAPD and LAFD detectives are investigating the incident as possible arson. 

Anyone who knows more is asked to contact LAPD's Major Crimes Division at (213) 486-7260.

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