Arson Investigated At Rancho Los Amigos Rehab Center

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DOWNEY (CBSLA.com) — Two vacant buildings at the 129-year-old Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center in Downey went up in flames, and the fire is now being investigated as arson.

The first fire was reported at 2:27 a.m. in a two-story building on the campus at 7601 E. Imperial Highway, according to the Downey Fire Department.

When firefighters arrived, the building was well involved in flames, but as they started battling that blaze, another fire about a block away was reported on fire. The second fire was in a 100-square-foot building that was also fully involved, a dispatcher said.

The smaller building "collapsed on itself." Both fires were out by 4 a.m.

An arson investigation was underway and no injuries were reported.

Rancho Los Amigos, founded in 1888 to serve families who could not afford medical services, now specializes in rehabilitating patients who have suffered strokes and other injuries or ailments.