A massive three-alarm fire engulfed an industrial warehouse in Commerce Friday, sending thick black smoke into the air visible for miles, but no injuries were immediately reported.
The blaze erupted at about 3:40 a.m. in the 6500 block of Flotilla Street west of Davie Avenue. Los Angeles County Fire Department crews encountered flames chewing through the 100,000-square-foot-plus structure.
The resulting plume of black smoke could be seen for miles.
LACFD Capt. Sheila Kelliher told Fox11 at the scene the building where the fire originated housed a plastic bench supplier. It was unclear how many businesses might be located in the structure, which was also believed to house a textile business, possibly a quilting and bedding warehouse.
The roof of the structure quickly collapsed as flames ripped through the building, forcing firefighters into a defensive posture.
Firefighters poured water onto the flames from ladders raised outside the structure, but it appeared to have very little impact on the inferno, which will likely burn until it runs out of fuel.
The flames were largely contained to the single sprawling structure, not spreading to any other buildings, but there were reports of some evacuations from a nearby residential area.
According to Fox11, more than 100 firefighters were on the scene.