Los Angeles firefighters responded to a report of smoke at an apartment building in the Florence neighborhood on Wednesday, only to find themselves dealing with a resident who had barricaded himself inside. As per the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), the incident occurred in the 306 block of West 59th Place at approximately 10:20 AM, with crews observing light smoke emanating from one unit on the second floor. The building, described as a three-story center-hall structure with residential units over commercial space, was promptly evacuated by the firefighters.
The situation escalated when the occupant of the smoke-filled unit, who is believed to "be experiencing a behavioral emergency," refused to cooperate with first responders. The LAFD stated that the building's residents were safely evacuated, while firefighters prepared to engage with a hose line but were forced to retreat to a safe location as LAPD officers arrived to assist. The LAPD has taken the lead in the operation, working to safely remove the barricaded individual so that firefighters can fully assess the situation.
In a follow-up update provided by LAFD spokesperson Margaret Stewart, the lack of visible smoke later on suggested that there was no active fire within the building. However, LAPD and fire department units remained on the scene, with equipment in place and ready to be utilized if necessary. "Based on smoke conditions (lack thereof), there does not appear to be an active fire problem," Stewart said. The LAFD emphasized the continued evacuation of the building and confirmed that no injuries had been reported.
