More than 80 firefighters battled a “major emergency” fire Thursday at a commercial building in downtown Los Angeles.
Crews responded at around 1:12 p.m. to the 200 block of East Winston Street, according to Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman Margaret Stewart.
By 2:04 p.m., the fire was declared a “major emergency” as more than 80 firefighters took a defensive stance while the flames spread to a nearby building, Stewart said in a statement.
“Due to heavy storage load, firefighters were not able to reach the seat of the fire,” Stewart said.
According to KNX, the building was packed with combustible materials — including candles, clothing and cardboard packages — raising concerns about a possible structural collapse.
Officials urged residents to steer clear of the area as crews worked to contain the stubborn blaze.