1 Dead, 5 Injured In Fire Near MacArthur Park

LOS ANGELES --- Five people were being treated for injuries today following a major fire that tore through a vacant office building in the Westlake district, killing one person, officials said.

The greater-alarm fire was reported just after 7 p.m. Monday at a 14,351 square-foot two-story office building at 2411 W. Eighth St. near MacArthur Park, said Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey.

Firefighters were forced into a defensive posture about 20 minutes into their battle with the blaze, fighting the flames from outside the structure, according to Humphrey, who said the fire was declared a major emergency.

A total of 147 firefighters led by Battalion Chief Jaime Moore fought the fire for two hours and 22 minutes, bringing it under control at about 9:25 p.m. Monday, he said.

Five civilians, all described as unauthorized occupants, were injured, Humphrey said. Three of those were rescued from the fire site. No information was immediately released about the person who died.

One person described as a person of interest was questioned by Los Angeles police, Humphrey said. That person and one other of the rescued patients were taken to a hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

No firefighters were injured in Monday's incident, Humphrey said.

The building, which has long stood vacant, Humphrey said, has been the site of past fires.

Investigators are looking into what caused the blaze, he added.

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--City News Service