Heavy Flames Engulf South Los Angeles Food Plant
COMPTON (CBSLA.com) – Heavy flames and smoke shot from a food processing plant that caught fire Monday night in South Los Angeles.
The greater-alarm blaze broke out before 8:30 p.m. at a 75,000-square-foot plant at 4020 S. Compton Ave. Los Angeles Fire Department reported that crews arrived to find flames rolling through the attic and kitchen. Crews were still actively battling the fire as of 11 p.m.
According to its website, the building serves as a plant for ProPortion Foods, a food service company that makes charbroiled foods for restaurants and grocery stores.
Firefighters initially entered the building, but were forced to exit and take a defensive position due to a compromised roof. At its height, more than 170 firefighters were on scene with hazmat crews working to identify whether any chemicals were in or around the structure. Explosions were heard from what were probably propane tanks on forklifts inside the building, the fire department said.
There were no injuries, LAFD said. There are homes and apartment buildings in the area, but no evacuation orders were given. The circumstances of the blaze were not immediately confirmed. A financial estimate of the damage was not released.