A pre-dawn fire tore through a two-story church in the Broadway Manchester section of South Los Angeles on Monday, collapsing part of the roof and sending thick smoke across the neighborhood. Firefighters fought the blaze for about two hours before declaring a knockdown, and while the building was heavily damaged, no injuries were reported. Nearby streets were shut as emergency crews locked down the scene.
Timeline and response
Firefighters were dispatched at 5:10 a.m. to the 10800 block of South Broadway Street, where they arrived to find flames showing from the second floor, the Los Angeles Fire Department told MyNewsLA. Crews quickly shifted into a defensive posture, working to keep the fire from jumping to neighboring structures while they pushed to bring the burning church under control.
Damage and scene
Helicopter video from AIR7 captured a partial collapse of the church roof as flames chewed through the upper level. Crews declared a knockdown just after 7 a.m., following roughly two hours of firefighting, according to ABC7. Arson investigators were called to the site, and the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety was set to evaluate whether the structure was still sound. Broadway was closed in both directions near the scene while that work unfolded.
Ownership and records
City records list the property at 10800 South Broadway as associated with a congregation identified as Greater New Holy Trinity Missionary Baptist Church, according to filings from the Los Angeles City Clerk. The documents link the church name to the parcel but do not indicate whether regular services were being held in the building at the time of the fire.
Investigation underway
Arson investigators continued working the scene Monday morning, and the cause of the blaze remains under investigation, according to ABC7. LAFD crews stayed on site to knock down remaining hot spots and secure the block as inspectors assessed how much of the building, if any, can be saved.
Aftermath
No injuries were reported, and firefighters remained in the area to monitor the site as cleanup and assessments continued, according to MyNewsLA. Neighbors faced lingering road closures and smoke as the investigation and recovery work moved forward.
