KMAX: News of the West

Fire injures five and destroys or damages six buildings near downtown Los Angeles

By ANDREW BRIDGES
Associated Press Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) Four firefighters and one resident were injured by a wind-driven blaze that destroyed four houses and damaged a four-unit apartment building and a market near downtown.

About 150 firefighters battled the fire in Angelino Heights for about an hour and a half Thursday afternoon, fire officials said.

Three firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion and one sustained a 2-inch laceration on his face, said Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Jim Wells. A 59-year-old resident complained of chest pain, Wells said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. No residents were missing, Wells said.

Firefighters responding to a 2:50 p.m. 911 call found winds blowing at up to 25 mph.

``That caused it to spread,'' fire Capt. Bill Wick said.

Five of the buildings involved were on one side of the street, while the apartments, which sustained minor damage, were on the other side.

Eduardo Plata, 13, said he was home with his parents and four sisters when they heard something ``pop.''

``It sounded like a small explosion,'' he said, as he clutched his guinea pig Marbles.

The fire quickly spread through the buildings on the street, including his own. ``I got my guinea pig, my rabbit, my two birds, I got my hamster,'' Eduardo said.

Neighborhood resident Mynor Gonzalez, 31, whose house was untouched by the flames, said he also heard a noise.

``I think a cylinder of gas exploded,'' Gonzalez said.

Young Han, 46, owner of Bob's Market, which appeared in the film ``The Fast and the Furious,'' said he was alerted to the fire by a customer. He said he ran outside and saw the fire spread from house to house.

``That house, the next house, and then the fire went there,'' he said, pointing to the buildings.

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