A historic railroad depot that was undergoing renovation was destroyed in a noninjury fire Friday morning, authorities said.
The Long Beach Fire Department received multiple calls at 2:37 a.m. reporting a large fire near the intersection of California Avenue and East 27th Street, close to the Long Beach-Signal Hill boundary, said Long Beach firefighter/paramedic Public Information Officer Jake Heflin.
The building on the grounds of Willow Springs Park had been moved there recently for renovation, Heflin said. The structure, built in 1907, had been a Southern Pacific Railroad depot and was to have been used as a visitors center at the park, he said, adding it was not part of the nearby historic Sunnyside Cemetery, as officials had originally thought.
Firefighters declared a knockdown at 3:24 a.m. but crews remained on the scene, in part to guard against flareups.
A fire investigator was summoned to the scene to determine a cause, Heflin said. A backhoe also was requested for overhaul operations. No injuries were reported.
—City News Service