3 Hurt As Massive Construction Fire Destroys 5 Buildings In South LA

LOS ANGELES, CA — A massive fire at an apartment building damaged neighboring homes in South Los Angeles, injuring three people and forcing residents to flee their homes in the early morning hours Tuesday.

The blaze broke out at an apartment building still in the framing stages of construction.

Los Angeles Fire Department crews responded at 3:25 a.m. to the fire at 1585 E. Vernon St. between Lima Street and Morgan Avenue where they found the flames had spread to at least four other buildings, said LAFD spokesman Nicholas Prange.

A 66-year-old man and a 64-year-old woman suffered serious burn injuries, he said.

"A total of seven buildings were impacted by fire with five of them deemed a total loss," Prange said. "The count for residents unable to return to their homes due to damage is 17."

It took over 140 firefighters one hour and 18 minutes to put out the flames. Los Angeles County Department firefighters also assisted with putting out the fire, Prange said.

Several nearby homes suffered some damage from the fire, authorities said.

Firefighters helped neighbors to evacuate their homes while residents pitched in to help get their neighbors to safety.

One resident told KTLA that a neighbor woke them up to flee.

“He hopped the fence, got on top of the roof and then he banged on our window,” the resident told KTLA.

The Red Cross was contacted to assist residents whose homes might be too damaged to immediately occupy.

The LAFD's Arson Section will be in charge of investigating the origins of the fire.

City News Service and Patch staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.