A commercial fire began burning Sunday night shortly after 8 p.m. in East LA. The fire burning on Whittier Boulevard and Arizona Avenue was upgraded to a 3rd alarm fire, according to LA County Fire. Darsha Philips reports Oct. 5, 2020.
A strip mall was damaged in a fire Sunday night in East Los Angeles.
The fire, reported at 8:20 p.m., was at a business on Whittier Boulevard and Arizona Avenue. Eighteen fire engines were dispatched to the scene.
NBC4 reporter Darsha Philips said she could see the fire spreading to neighboring businesses, including a traffic school, as it affected them on all sides.
In all, approximately six businesses were affected, including one believed to be a fabric store, according to Philips. Authorities said there was no one inside those businesses and no injuries were reported.
The area is closed off as firefighters try to get a handle on this blaze.
"The fire was able to get above firefighters and travel, therefore, it was able to spread laterally on either side...trouble there is to catch it before it keeps moving down to other businesses," said LA County Fire Inspector Henry Narvaez.
One of the things making the firefight difficult for crews is the fact that these buildings are old and have no fire breaks, according to LAFD.
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The fire was out at about 10:30 p.m.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
