A fire broke out this morning at a residential building in Koreatown, leading to the injury of four people, one of whom is in critical condition. The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the incident at a two-story, four-plex on the 400 block of South Gramercy Place shortly after 8:30 a.m., as reported on their official website.
Upon arrival, firefighters encountered moderate smoke emanating from the first floor and, assumed offensive fire attack positions. It took approximately 30 minutes to extinguish the fire, located primarily in the basement where multiple lithium-ion batteries, commonly used to power scooters, were discovered alongside one of the victims, LAFD officials stated. The presence of these batteries could have implications regarding the cause and intensity of the fire.
According to a news alert by KTLA, one individual was critically injured after being pulled from the basement, while a second was rescued from a second-story window by way of a fire department ladder, and is currently being assessed for smoke inhalation. A third patient is also being treated for smoke inhalation, and the condition of the fourth is still being evaluated.
The work of the firefighters was thorough, containing most of the damage to the building's basement and preventing significant spread to the upper levels of the structure. Despite the urgency and risk of the situation, there has been no report of injuries to any of the LAFD personnel involved in the operation. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential hazards associated with storing power sources such as lithium-ion batteries, which require careful handling and storage to prevent such disasters.
