A fire damaged a high-rise commercial building under renovation in the Koreatown area Wednesday, but no one was hurt.
Firefighters sent to the 500 block of South Vermont Avenue at 8:46 a.m. extinguished the flames in the 12-story building in 33 minutes, the Los Angeles Fire Department reported.
“Work was underway in the elevator shaft and it is believed sparks fell down into rubbish in the basement,” an LAFD statement said.
“Firefighters ascended the stairwell up to the roof and are now assisting in ventilation efforts to clear the building of smoke,” the statement said. “Firefighters are also completing a thorough search on each floor looking for both occupants and any fire extension which will be an extended duration operation due to the size of the building.”
Traffic was routed away from the area. The cause of the fire was under investigation.