City block, buildings damaged in large South LA commercial fire; Dogs rescued

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (FOX 11 / CNS) - About 250 Los Angeles city and county firefighters worked today to extinguish a fire that damaged eight commercial buildings and two homes in an unincorporated area abutting South Los Angeles, but ll was not lost in that fire.

Out of the smoldering remains came something that could never be replaced. Thanks to the LA County Fire Department.

The greater-alarm fire was reported in the 5800 block of South Hooper Avenue shortly after 1 a.m., Los Angeles County Fire Department Inspector David Dantic said.

Arriving firefighters found the flames burning through the roof of a metal-clad 300-foot-by-300-foot building, and they went into a defensive mode, fighting the fire from the exterior as they worked to prevent the flames from
spreading to other buildings, Dantic said. However the fire quickly spread and ended up affecting an area described as a "city block" in size, Dantic said.

After about two and a half hours, the firefighters began getting the upper hand on the flames. By around daybreak the fire was nearly extinguished, and firefighters remained on scene dousing hot spots, a fire dispatcher said.

One firefighter suffered a minor injury, Dantic said.

The cause of the fire was under investigation. A damage estimate was not immediately available.

The damaged businesses included a furniture manufacturer, at least one warehouse, and a restaurant, according to reports from the scene. One of the damaged homes was vacant, Dantic said.

Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman said Brian Humphrey said city firefighters remained on the scene even after it was determined that the fire was burning in unincorporated county-run territory. The fire scene was in the
Wingfoot Florence area just south of the city border.