Fire spreads from downtown L.A. church to house [Updated]

A large cloud of smoke stretched across downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday night as firefighters battled a blaze in a church and adjacent house, authorities said.

The fire in the 500 block of East Washington Boulevard quickly spread from the church to the single-family house, the Los Angeles Fire Department said.Fire crews were battling the blaze from all sides, officials said. 

The fire broke out about 7:20 p.m.No additional details were available.

[Updated at 8:30 p.m.: The blaze was knocked down by 80 firefighters in 41 minutes. No injuries were reported, and authorities did not know the name of the church, said Fire Department spokesman Devin Gales.]

-- Robert J. Lopez

Photos: Firefighters battle the quick-moving blaze. Credit: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times