Today, a fire erupted in an unoccupied two-story hotel located at 1418 N New Hampshire Avenue in East Hollywood. The blaze was battled by firefighters for an hour, eventually achieving suppressive control. The Los Angeles Fire Department reported no injuries, yet classified the incident as a Major Emergency, prompting a probe into possible arson.
The firefighters experienced considerable difficulties in accessing the flaming structure due to heavily boarded entrances. This delay helped the spread of the fire. As detailed by the LAFD, upon gaining access to the two affected units at the corner of the building, a successful firefighting strategy helped extinguish the fire within an hour. LAFD's Public Information Officer, Captain Adam VanGerpen, arrived on site to deliver media updates.
The cause of the fire remains ambiguous with preliminary investigations being divided between accidental or intentional arson. The well-boarded state of the empty building has brought about suspicion, leading investigators to consider the possibility of arson. As per standard protocol for incidents of a larger scale, a thorough investigation is being conducted by the LAFD's Arson Unit.
Remarkably, despite the intensity of the fire, no adjacent structures were damaged.
