By Ruben Vives
September 19, 2018
A firefighter points towards a blaze above them as a commercial building continues to burn in Boyle Heights Wednesday afternoon. (Maria Alejandra Cardona / Los Angeles Times)
Three firefighters were injured in a blaze that broke out at a warehouse in Boyle Heights on Wednesday afternoon, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
The massive commercial fire in the 2800 block of East Pico Boulevard was reported around 12:46 p.m., fire officials said.
It took more than two hours and about 150 firefighters to put out the flames. The blaze had sent up a massive pillar of smoke that could be seen miles away.
Three firefighters battling the flames on the roof suffered some burns when a portion of the roof gave way. At least one fell partially through the roof but managed to pull himself out with the help of the two others, officials said. The firefighters were able to escape from the damaged roof and were taken to a hospital.
Fire officials said contents inside the building appeared to have included clothing material. Property records show the commercial building was being used by a clothing wholesaler.
Officials said firefighters were able to prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent buildings.
The cause of the fire is under investigation , officials said.
3:27 p.m.: This article was updated to reflect that the fire was put out.
3 p.m.: This article was updated with the number of injuries and more details on the building.
Passion Imports, Inc. -About Us
For over 25 years Passion Imports, Inc. has provided companies throughout the United States and Canada with quality garments. More recently our corporation has expanded to providing over 500 companies with, not only apparel, but accessories and souvenir products as well. Our goal it to keep our product’s quality high and cost low. For more information please feel free to contact our friendly staff!
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NBC.com
A raging fire destroyed a Boyle Heights import business Wednesday and three firefighters were injured, one critically, when the roof of the sprawling warehouse-type structure collapsed beneath their feet.
The fire broke out for unknown reasons around 12:45 p.m. at the Passion Imports building in the 2800 block of East Pico Boulevard. Arriving crews found the structure well-involved in flames with a thick plume of black smoke rising into the air.
Crews began pouring water on the structure and worked to vent the roof of the 16,000-square-foot building, with initial reports indicating that as many as a dozen people might be inside, according to Los Angeles Fire Department Capt. Erik Scott.
A short time later, the roof gave way, and three firefighters who were on top of the building fell inside the burning structure, Scott said. All three suffered burn injuries, with one of them taken to a hospital in critical condition and the other two listed as fair, he said.
Fire Burns Commercial Building in Boyle Heights
An intense fire burning in a Boyle Heights commercial building was sending heavy smoke into the air Wednesday.(Published Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018)
No other injuries were immediately reported.
Firefighters then assumed a defensive posture, pouring water on the structure from the outside. The blaze was declared knocked down around 3 p.m., but crews continued to spray water on the smoldering structure to prevent any flareups.
About 150 firefighters were assigned to the blaze.
Scott noted that the building had a large amount of baled goods inside that fed the flames. The Passion Imports website indicates the company specializes in apparel, accessories and souvenirs.
The business owner, Arun Dutt, told reporters at the scene that a crew of about 10 people had been inside the warehouse most of the day "changing the lights."
"They were done almost, 60 percent, and then it starts -- something happened in front of us and then they couldn't control it," he said.
At one point during the blaze, workers could be seen carrying what appeared to be propane tanks away from the burning structure.
The cause of the fire remained under investigation.