Massive Fire Consumes Downtown LA Commercial Buildings, Over 100 Firefighters Deployed

Los Angeles, CA – A fierce fire erupted Thursday afternoon at 215 E. Winston Street in downtown Los Angeles, engulfing two commercial buildings and prompting a massive response from the Los Angeles Fire Department. The blaze, reported shortly after 1 p.m., quickly escalated to "major emergency" status as thick smoke and flames spread through a row of businesses in the city’s Fashion District.

Firefighters arriving on the scene found heavy smoke pouring from the structure and began an aggressive offensive attack. Their efforts were hampered by dense storage conditions inside, which made it difficult to reach the heart of the fire. As the situation deteriorated and flames extended into an adjoining building, incident commanders ordered a shift to defensive operations, deploying master streams and aerial ladders to contain the blaze from outside.

At the height of the emergency, more than 100 firefighters from 22 companies battled the inferno, working for hours to prevent the fire from spreading further. The Los Angeles Fire Department deployed its RS3 Robotic Firefighting Vehicle to access areas deemed unsafe for personnel. The fire was officially knocked down at 7:27 p.m., with crews managing to save surrounding businesses and confine the damage to the building of origin—constructed in 1916—and an adjacent structure.

No injuries or fatalities were reported. Authorities issued road closures and smoke advisories, urging residents and commuters to avoid the area bounded by South Los Angeles Street, East 4th Street, Wall Street, and Winston Street. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the LAFD Arson and Counter-Terrorism Section.

The incident caused significant structural damage and triggered widespread power outages in the vicinity. Officials praised the swift response and coordinated effort of firefighters, which prevented further destruction in one of downtown LA’s busiest commercial corridors.