Two people were rescued from a burning six-story commercial building in the Westlake district, authorities said today.
Los Angeles firefighters responded about 7:45 p.m. Tuesday to a fire in a 6-story commercial building. Flames were showing from much of the fifth floor and top floor. The fire was extinguished by 170 firefighters in 81 minutes, according to LAFD spokesman Brian Humphrey.
A husband and wife were rescued by ladder from the fifth floor of the building. Both refused medical treatment. People below the top floors were stranded in smoke conditions. Firefighters carried equipment up and down stairwells, while searching for people in need of rescue. Some firefighters were assigned to go up each floor to search for people.
One civilian was treated for burns down the street from the flames, said fire Capt. Dan Curry. A firefighter was hospitalized as a precaution after strong exertion in difficult fire conditions, Humphrey said.
The 66,000-square-foot building, which consisted of mostly medical offices, was built in 1956.
A husband and wife in their 60s were rescued from a downtown high rise fire Tuesday in Westlake District, Los Angeles. Erica Nochlin reports.
*UPDATE: 1543 W Olympic Bl* KNOCKDOWN; 170 FF's took 81 min to fully extinguish blaze; 1 civilian (non-life threat) injury (details pending)
— LAFD (@LAFD) April 8, 2015
*UPDATE: 1543 W Olympic Bl* Fire controlled, not yet fully extinguished; 1 civilian evaluated for unspecified (non-life-threat) injury.
— LAFD (@LAFD) April 8, 2015
*UPDATE: 1543 W Olympic Bl* This fire reached LAFD 'Major Emergency' status, with 170 FF's assigned at peak of battle >>
— LAFD (@LAFD) April 8, 2015
*UPDATE: 1543 W Olympic Bl* Correction: Appears occupied businesses – not residential; Firefight on 5th (not 6th) floor w/ ladder rescues
— LAFD (@LAFD) April 8, 2015
#StructureFire 1543 W Olympic Bl https://t.co/XsaXK5KwN4; FS 11; #Westlake; 6 story residential w/fire on 6th floor; Ch:9,12,13 @ 7:45 PM
— LAFD (@LAFD) April 8, 2015
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