Firefighters worked to protect homes early Wednesday from a fire that apparently started at a homeless encampment and spread to a vacant commercial building near the Venice Beach boardwalk.
The fire was reported around 6:30 a.m. in the 700 block of Ocean Front Walk near the boardwalk. Thick smoke was drifting over the oceanfront community.
Details about how the fire started at the 6,950-square-foot, two-story building were not immediately available.
Part of a homeless encampment with several tents located next to the building also appeared to have burned. The fire appeared to spread from that area to the adjacent commercial building, the fire department said early Wednesday.
Fire investigators are working to confirm the fire's ignition point.
No injuries were reported.
