170 firefighters knock down Valley Village apartment complex fire

More than 170 firefighters have knocked down a “major emergency” structure fire at a Valley Village apartment complex Wednesday, authorities said.

Firefighters first were called out to the 5200 block of Bellingham Avenue around 10 a.m. for a fire reported in a second-floor unit of a three-story apartment complex. They rescued two residents from a balcony with ladders, officials said in a statement.

Few details were available, said Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey.

He said paramedics were evaluating people who could be ill or injured at the scene but could not provide details on how many people were being examined or the extent of any injuries.

Humphrey said it was unclear if the fire had spread from the single unit to other parts of the building, but he stressed that the fire was “active.”

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-- Matt Stevens  

Photo: David Dassa, 76, was evacuated from his apartment in the 5200 block of Bellingham Avenue after fire broke out in a unit on the second floor. Credit: Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times