Firefighters were battling a fire Thursday morning at a four-story building in downtown L.A., according to authorities.
Crews were placing ground ladders to fire escapes in order to help evacuate occupants from the building, according to a Los Angeles Fire Department news release.
The fire has been categorized as a major emergency incident, with at least 17 fire companies on the scene, according to the release.
Multiple outlets reported that the building on fire was the landmark Morrison Hotel, which was made famous after it was featured on a Doors’ album in 1970. It was saved from demolition and converted into low-income housing earlier this year.
Firefighters pry open the metal screen door of a boarded-up building as they mop up after a major alarm fire in downtown Los Angeles.
(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
“The smoke cloud was so close. We didn’t know where it was coming from,” said Faith Ronning, who lives in an apartment building across from the fire. “People in the neighboring buildings hustled outside with their pets and kids. I’ve never seen a fire that big up close like that.”
Times staff writer Julius Miller contributed to this report.
