Firefighters were battling a blaze at a four-story building in downtown Los Angeles Thursday morning, according to authorities.
Crews are placing ground ladders on fire escapes to help evacuate people from the building, according to a Los Angeles Fire Department news release.
The fire has been classified as a major emergency and at least 17 fire companies are responding to the scene, according to a news release.
Multiple media reports said the building that caught fire was the landmark Morrison Hotel, famous for its appearance on the 1970 Doors album. Income Housing.
Firefighters pried open a metal screen door of a boarded-up building to clean up after a major fire alarm broke out in downtown Los Angeles.
(Brian Vanderbrugge/Los Angeles Times)
“The smoke was very close. We don’t know where it came from,” said Faith Ronning, who lives in an apartment building across from the fire. “People in neighboring buildings were busy outside with their pets and children. I’ve never seen a fire of this size so close.
Times staff writer Julius Miller contributed to this report.
