People Seen Running Into Burning Buildings In Downtown Blaze

LOS ANGELES, CA — A trash fire near Skid Row spread to commercial and residential buildings Thursday afternoon, and people could be seen running in and out of the burning buildings.

The greater alarm fire in the flower district damaged four commercial buildings and upstairs residential units, displacing 30 people. Two people were injured in the fire.

The Los Angeles Police Department was called in to conduct crowd control and keep people from running back into the buildings to retrieve belongings. Nearly 150 Los Angeles Fire Department firefighters battled the blaze, cutting ventilation holes and deploying hose streams, according to a department spokesman.

"A large outside rubbish fire spread to several businesses in a row of commercial buildings, which had occupied residential units across the second floor," LAFD spokesman Nicholas Prange said in a written statement. "Firefighters have ascended ladders to the roof to cut ventilation holes, as crews deploy hose streams below. Firefighters are entering businesses on either side to prevent any further horizontal spread."

It took 148 firefighters one hour and 35 minutes to put out the fire.

"Thankfully, only one person (28-year-old female) was transported to the hospital in fair condition, and a second (50-year-old male) was evaluated and released (both had symptoms of smoke inhalation)," added Prange.

The cause of the blaze remains under investigation. The blaze was first reported shortly after 3 p.m. near Seventh and San Pedro streets.

Multiple buildings were fully engulfed in flames, and billowing smoke could be seen from across the Downtown area.