LAFD Extinguishes Massive Fire in Chinatown; Man, 90, in Critical Condition

LOS ANGELES (CNS) - A 90-year-old man is in critical condition Friday after being rescued from a raging fire that damaged a vacant three-story apartment building under construction in Chinatown, along with other buildings in the neighborhood.

Fire crews responded at 3:43 a.m. Friday to the 700 block of West New Depot Street -- near the 800 block of North Bunker Hill Avenue and east of the Harbor (110) Freeway -- where they encountered intense flames burning on the first and third floors of the vacant building, LAFD spokeswoman Margaret Stewart said.

The flames spread to a three-story apartment building on the east side of that structure -- in the 800 block of North Bunker Hill Avenue -- and also damaged three other buildings on the south side and the west side, Stewart said.

It took over 130 firefighters an hour and 36 minutes to contain the flames, which originated in the vacant building in the 700 block of West New Depot Street, Stewart said.

A 90-year-old man who was rescued from the three-story building on the east side of the vacant building was taken to a hospital in critical condition, according to Stewart.

A woman in her 50s with a "non-life-threatening burn injury" was taken to a hospital in fair condition, Stewart said.

Two firefighters also were injured, Stewart said. One firefighter with a "non-life-threatening extremity injury (was) taken to (an) occupational health facility, and one with probable heat exhaustion is being treated on scene," Stewart said in a statement.

Two other people were "assessed and declined LAFD treatment/transport," Stewart said in a statement.

An estimated 70 residents in total were affected by the fire, and personnel from LA Building and Safety were working to evaluate the structures to determine which units would be safe to occupy, Stewart said.

The Red Cross was providing assistance. A van was provided to bring displaced residents to the Chinatown Services Center, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

According to KTLA5, Residents and at least one building manager said they had contacted city officials about homeless people squatting and starting fires in the unfinished building.

The LAFD Arson Section will be in charge of investigating the cause of the fire.