Fire hits downtown LA commercial building, three hospitalized

A large fire ripped through a two-story commercial building in downtown Los Angeles early Sunday, hospitalizing three people and forcing firefighters to abandon interior operations, the Los Angeles Fire Department said.

The blaze is the latest large-structure fire to strike the Los Angeles area, renewing concerns about building safety and fire response capacity across the Southern California region, which many Orange County residents commute through daily.

The fire was reported at 3:58 a.m. at 1225 S. Hope St., a two-story building with a mezzanine level, according to ABC7 Los Angeles, which cited the City News Service. Three people were taken to a hospital in unknown condition; officials did not immediately disclose how the victims were connected to the building.

LAFD spokesperson Jamie Stewart said crews transitioned from offensive to defensive firefighting mode during the blaze, according to ABC7 Los Angeles. All firefighters were ordered to withdraw from the building as commanders shifted strategy to protect surrounding structures.

Hope Street was closed in the affected area while emergency operations continued. Arson investigators and emergency air units were requested to the scene, according to ABC7 Los Angeles.

The cause of the fire remained under investigation as of Sunday morning.

No arrests have been announced. Additional details about the hospitalized individuals were not immediately available.