Arson is the suspected cause of a fire that broke out in a Koreatown apartment building, as reported by KTLA. The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the scene at 154 N. New Hampshire Avenue shortly after 1:00 p.m. on Sunday. Upon arrival, crews encountered smoke emanating from a unit on the fourth floor of the five-story building.
Officials said that fire companies on the scene coordinated fire attack and ventilation between multiple floors of the 5-story apartment building, as confirmed in an LAFD alert. The operation, involving 61 firefighters, successfully extinguished the flames within approximately 30 minutes. Amidst the chaos, one woman sustained minor injuries but declined hospitalization, staying at the scene in fair condition. She received treatment from the first responders present.
Further details surrounding the incident surfaced in a follow-up LAFD alert stating the fire reached knockdown in 31 minutes with a strong presence of 61 firefighters on scene. Their coordinated effort averted the fire's spread beyond the single affected unit, safeguarding the integrity of the larger building and its inhabitants.
An update from the LAFD cited that arson has been attributed to a suspect on scene, as divulged in an update after the fire. The Los Angeles Police Department has taken over the investigation, with specific inquiries being referred to LAPD INC #2329.
