Koreatown apartment fire was accidental

A fire in the attic of a historic apartment building in Koreatown was accidental in cause and not arson, Los Angeles Fire Department official Brian Humphrey said.

Investigators said that the fire was probably electrical in nature.

More than 100 residents of the 58-unit building at 614 S. Saint Andrews Place were evacuated after the fire spread from the attic to the roof of the building, said Los Angeles Fire Department Battalion Chief Ronnie R. Villanueva.

One occupant was taken to a hospital for treatment of shortness of breath, but there were no serious injuries.

Residents said it was the latest in a string of what appeared to be targeted attacks against the Versailles Apartments in two days.

Jeff Brooks, director of operations for Wexford Management, confirmed that another fire had started in the management office early Thursday morning. And before Friday morning's blaze, someone had fired gunshots into a workout room in the front of the building.

Thursday's fire has been determined to be arson, Humphrey said. It was extinguished by sprinklers and out by the time firefighters arrived.

-- Sam Quinones and Abby Sewell

Comments

[Peacemonger]

The arsonists (criminals) probably think that the apartment dwellers had something to do with their own misfortune. A schizophrenia epidemic is sweeping California, made worse by real misfortune. In these tough times, we should not blame one another for random misfortunes as hard as it may be. This is how people start making connections between things where there are none at all. We all wish for things to improve and for people to have constructive channels for their anger. Poor residents!

[ELNK]

This is not accidental. My neighbors and I live in this building and believe strongly that this was arson... Gunshots were at the gym (614) and building 608 as well...

[concerned resident]

This was not an accidental fire. A firefighter on the site said a person had attempted to light the rooftops of two out of three of the Versailles buildings. They did not manage to successfully light the first roof on fire but did manage to light the second. In addition they poured gasoline the previous day in the office of the building and attempted to light the office and building on fire. In addition gunshots were fired at two out of three of the Versailles apartment buildings.

[John]

I live there! That was not an accident... what about the gun shots before the fire????

[Confused resident....]

Definitely not an accident....I live there too and am confused about the recent violence. Great management and tenants, and amazed that the police left as quick as they got there when the shootings happened....maybe the fire a couple of hours could have been prevented if they took the threats a little more serious. Beautiful building and chill residents, what a shame.....

[kimberly]

I am also a resident of this building on the 6th floor and I do not believe that this was an accident.....

[Alex]

I'm a resident at one the adjoining buildings and just heard from the cops (not the management) that the big fire on Friday was arson and that racist graffiti was found on the 6th floor of the burnt out building. Don't know if it was before or after the fire, but if it was after it's really, really scary because now we have armed security patrolling the buildings 24hrs a day.