2 Men On Surveillance Video Near Massive Downtown Fire Wanted For Questioning

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Investigators asked for the public's help Monday to identify two men seen on surveillance video taken the day of the massive apartment fire in downtown L.A. last week.

Two men authorities say are potential witnesses are seen in surveillance video walking in the area of the fire, which caused tens of millions of dollars in damage Dec. 8 to the seven-story Da Vinci Complex, 906 N. Fremont Ave..

The two individuals are not considered suspects or persons of interest, and investigators would like to interview them because they were in the area of the fire, officials said.

One edited video apparently shows a man in a black jacket, black pants and a black and white baseball cap grabbing at the fence around the apartment complex as it burned before firefighters pull him away from the fence, KNX 1070's Claudia Peschiutta reports.

L.A. Fire Capt. Jamie Moore says firefighters were busy with the blaze and were unable to detain the man to find out what he was doing.

A second video shows a different man, wearing a football jersey with the number 21, a backpack and a baseball cap walking by the area.

"These are not necessarily people of interest, but they are individuals who may some have information that can help with the investigation that's ongoing," Moore said.