Fire crews battle huge blaze in South L.A. [Updated]

A huge fire engulfed a commercial structure in South Los Angeles on Wednesday evening, prompting first-in fire crews to call for additional units to help battle the blaze.

The blaze at the one-story structure at 158 E. 58th St. was well underway when firefighters arrived about 5:40 p.m., the Los Angeles Fire Department said.

Firetrucks were pouring massive streams of water onto the blaze as flames and thick clouds of smoke filled the air.  Fire Department spokesman Erik Scott said additional fire engines were responding.

No injuries were immediately reported, and it was unclear what sparked the fire.

[Updated 7:04 p.m.: One firefighter was taken to a local hospital for possible heat exhaustion. The blaze was knocked down by 150 firefighters who were at the scene for more than an hour, the Fire Department said.]

-- Robert J. Lopez

Photo: Flames tear through commercial building. Credit: KTLA.

Comments

[LV]

I live in the area, and this is like the fourth fire in the Slauson Ave. corridor this year. I hope there isn't an arsonist running around, hopefully the Fire Dept. investigates this possibility.