LOS ANGELES – Firefighters Thursday extinguished a fire in a commercial building housing a church in the Chesterfield Square area of Los Angeles, the second fire in that building within a few hours.
The more recent fire was reported in the one-story building in the 2100 block of West Slauson Avenue about 3:20 a.m. Thursday, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
The fire apparently started in a part of the building adjacent to the Holy Apostolic Church, and spread through a common wall to the church, according to the LAFD and reports from the scene.
Part of the roof collapsed, and firefighters went into a defensive mode, pouring water onto the outside of the structure to prevent the fire from spreading further. The flames were extinguished in an hour and 17 minutes, the LAFD reported. Firefighters remained on scene after daybreak dousing hot spots.
Three residents were evacuated from a nearby residence, and no one was hurt.
It was the second fire in the building within a few hours.
About 10:35 p.m. Wednesday, firefighters sent to the same address extinguished a fire in the part of the building adjacent to the church in about a half hour, preventing the flames from spreading to the church, the LAFD reported. The cause of the fire was under investigation.
