Fire rips through Downtown LA commercial building

The fire tore through a commercial building in downtown Los Angeles late this afternoon, forcing crews to battle the flames from outside the structure.

The blaze, which became a major emergency structure fire, was reported at 5:35 p.m. at a one-story building in the 1400 block of South Long Beach Avenue, according to Margaret Stewart of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Flames could be seen leaping through the building's roof as crews arrived on scene.

More than 135 firefighters battled the flames and worked to keep them from spreading to buildings on three sides of the affected structure, Stewart said.

Downed power lines complicated firefighters efforts and Los Angeles Department of Water & Power crews were called to the scene, she said.

No injuries were immediately reported.

"This will be an extended operation so please avoid the area for the rest of the evening," Stewart said.