Crews battle 2 massive fires in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES -- Crews battled two large fires in Los Angeles early Monday, including a massive one downtown that closed portions of two major freeways and blanketed the area in ash and heavy smoke.

Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Ralph Terrazas says more than 250 firefighters battled the downtown blaze that was sparked at a construction site around 1:20 a.m. Monday.

The fire consumed the wood-framed structure and damaged two other buildings, including three floors of an adjacent high-rise before being brought under control.

A 15-story Los Angeles County building, located at 313 Figueroa Street, suffered radiant heat damage, while a 16-story high-rise at 221 Figueroa Street had "active fire on three floors of that building and sprinkler activation on six floors," Chief Terrazas said.

"We had a bulk of the fire knocked down in 90 minutes," he added.

Portions of U.S. Route 101 and Interstate 110 were shut down.

"They literally opened the door to see an entire city block with fire showing," Cpt. Jamie Moore told CBS Los Angeles.

Crews attacked the wood-burning fire from the ground and the Harbor Freeway.

Officials were concerned the wooden structure may collapse and closed the northbound 110 Freeway, between the I-10 and the 101 Freeway, as a precaution.

"More than two-thirds of that occupancy was on fire causing significant exposure issues to two nearby high-rise buildings,"Terrazas said.

A 15-story building, located at 313 Figueroa Street, suffered radiant heat damage, while a 16-story high-rise at 221 Figueroa Street had "active fire on three floors of that building and sprinkler activation on six floors," Terrazas said.

No injuries were reported and damages were estimated in the millions.

Shortly after 4 a.m. another fire was reported at a mixed-use building about 2 miles away in the Westlake District. More than 100 firefighters from multiple agencies responded and had the flames under control in less than two hours, according to Chief Deputy Mario D. Rueda.

One person in a nearby apartment building was treated for minor smoke inhalation, he said.

Around 10 businesses were housed in the two-story building in the Westlake district and portions of it were being renovated for residential use.

There have been no initial indications the two fires were connected, CBS Los Angeles reports.