A greater-alarm fire damaged a two-story medical office building near Echo Park early Friday, and two firefighters were taken to a hospital for examination.
Firefighters sent to the 1000 block of West Sunset Boulevard at 1 a.m. extinguished the flames in 58 minutes, said Margaret Stewart of the Los Angeles Fire Department.
The flames quickly spread from the first to the second floor of the 51-year old, 7,406-square-foot building, Stewart said.
“The first arriving fire company found an outside fire extending into a two-story commercial building,” Stewart said in a statement. “They immediately initiated an offensive operation and requested additional resources.
“While crews gained access to the structure and deployed hand lines, they found fire on both the first and second floors. The engine and truck companies executed a well coordinated interior fire attack and vertical ventilation operation,” Stewart said.
“During the firefight, a portion of the floor in one room on the second story collapsed and two firefighters `rode’ the section gradually down onto the first floor. Fortunately, they did not sustain any serious injuries and were later transported to the hospital for a full evaluation,” she said.
Per protocol, LAFD Arson and Counter-Terrorism Section personnel were sent to determine the cause of the fire.
Stewart said an extensive overhaul would be required to ensure no hot spots remain in the insulation above the building’s drop ceiling.