Fire Guts Four Businesses In Boyle Heights
BOYLE HEIGHTS (CBSLA.com) — Investigators Thursday were trying to determine the cause of a fire that gutted four businesses just east of downtown.
The fire was reported around 12:15 a.m. in the 3700 block of Whittier Boulevard in Boyle Heights, the Los Angeles Fire Department said.
When crews arrived on scene, they found a one-story cinder block building with smoke pouring out of it.
Approximately 100 firefighters began an initial attack inside the building, but were later forced out as the flames quickly spread to all of the businesses and attic.
"Three different businesses are here. It looks like a retail store, a cabinet shop and a small pharmacy and there was also a small shop that's doing sewing. It looked like they were making clothing," Batt. Chief Kurt Klasta said.
It took crews more than two hours to knock down the fire.
A firefighter was treated on scene for smoke inhalation and no other injuries were reported.
Arson investigators believe the fire started in the cabinet shop, but were still trying to determine the cause.
"The occupants were here until about 10 o'clock at night working in the cabinet shop and so somewhere between them leaving the building and shortly after midnight, the fire had erupted," Chief Klasta said.
Damage estimates were not available.
