KTLA

Crews extinguish large structure fire in El Sereno; 1 firefighter injured

Crews put out a large structure fire Thursday at an El Sereno commercial building that left one firefighter injured.

The blaze at the 200-foot by 200-foot one-story commercial building at 4900 E. Alhambra Ave. started around 5:20 p.m. with fire going through the roof, the Los Angeles Fire Department said.

There were 146 LAFD personnel assigned to fight the fire, dubbed the Alhambra Fire, as it escalated to major emergency status.

About 90 minutes into the firefight, LAFD crews joined by L.A. County Fire Department personnel were able to hold the flames and transition toward an offensive fire attack. Two hours in, the fire was fully extinguished, LAFD said.

Sky5 was above the scene around 5:40 p.m. as black smoke could be seen billowing into the air and intense orange flames overtook the warehouse.

At least seven fire trucks could be seen surrounding the structure, which served as a roller derby auditorium in recent years, dowsing water over the flames.

One LAFD firefighter sustained a shoulder injury in the final minutes of the battle. He was taken to an area hospital in fair condition for an injury not considered life-threatening, LAFD said.

All civilians within or near the building at the time of the fire have been accounted for, and no other injuries were reported.

Firefighters were to remain at scene Thursday night to overhaul the fire and assure no flare-ups.

LAFD investigators were on site in the midst of what remains an active fire cause investigation.

Firefighters were also working Thursday to put out a massive blaze burning out of control outside a warehouse in Carson. Some 200 firefighters were on scene battling that greater-alarm fire as of 4:45 p.m., including some L.A. city firefighters, officials said.