Advertisement
California

Latest on investigation of huge downtown Los Angeles fire

Fire in downtown Los Angeles
1/39
More than 200 firefighters work to control a massive fire as it destroys a seven-story building under construction in downtown Los Angeles.  (MARIANA ROSALES / EPA)
Fire in downtown Los Angeles
2/39
A staircase to nowhere sits by itself after a massive fire in downtown Los Angeles early Dec. 8 leveled an apartment tower under construction.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Fire in downtown Los Angeles
3/39
Arson investigators from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives on scene to conduct an investigation into December’s Da Vinci apartment complex fire.  (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
Fire in downtown Los Angeles
4/39
An elevated view of all that is left of the 1.3 million-square-foot Da Vinci apartment complex that was destroyed by fire in December.  (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
Fire in downtown Los Angeles
5/39
Traffic flows along the 110 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles next to the remains of what was to be the Da Vinci apartment complex that was destroyed by fire in December.  (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
Fire in downtown Los Angeles
6/39
A massive fire engulfs a apartment building construction site near downtown Los Angeles on Dec. 8.  (Nancy Yuille / Associated Press)
Fire in downtown Los Angeles
7/39
A crane begins to tear down the seven-story Da Vinci apartment complex.  (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
Fire in downtown Los Angeles
8/39
The smoldering ruins of the Da Vinici building.  (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
Fire in downtown Los Angeles
9/39
Work crews walk past a still-smoldering construction site after it was destroyed in an early morning fire.  (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
Fire in downtown Los Angeles
10/39
Investigators outside a building that was partially destroyed in an early morning fire next to the 110 Freeway.  (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
Fire in downtown Los Angeles
11/39
Arson investigators survey the scene after a massive fire in downtown Los Angeles.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Fire in downtown Los Angeles
12/39
Caltrans workers remove signs over the 110 Freeway after a massive fire at a nearby apartment complex project on Dec. 8.  (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)
Fire in downtown Los Angeles
13/39
A firefighter hoses down hot spots after battling a massive fire at the Da Vinci apartment complex under construction on Temple Street and Fremont Avenue in downtown Los Angeles on Dec. 8.  (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)
Fire in downtown Los Angeles
14/39
Arson investigators and an ATF agent, center, walk along the 110 Freeway near the site of the blaze on Dec. 8.   (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Fire in downtown Los Angeles
15/39
Firefighters spray water on hot spots after a massive fire in downtown Los Angeles in December.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Fire in downtown Los Angeles
16/39
The extreme heat from the fire melted a nearby parking sign.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Fire in downtown Los Angeles
17/39
Firefighters look out from the shattered windows of a nearby office building damaged by the morning blaze. The huge L.A. fire that engulfed an apartment tower over an area the size of a city block is being treated as a criminal fire.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Fire in downtown Los Angeles
18/39
A firefighter looks at the twisted metal that used to be scaffolding surrounding an apartment complex under construction brought down by a massive fire in downtown Los Angeles early Dec. 8.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Fire in downtown Los Angeles
19/39
A burnt palm tree is all that if left standing after a massive fire in downtown Los Angeles in December.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Fire in downtown Los Angeles
20/39
As freeway traffic passes by, smoke rises from the scene of a massive fire at the Da Vinci apartment complex project in downtown Los Angeles on Dec. 8.  (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)
Fire in downtown Los Angeles
21/39
Blown-out windows are seen on the Lewis Brisbois Building on Dec. 8 as smoke lingers after a massive fire at a nearby apartment complex project in downtown Los Angeles.  (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)
Fire in downtown Los Angeles
22/39
Firefighters stand on the 110 Freeway on Dec. 8 after battling a massive fire at the nearby Da Vinci apartment complex under construction on Temple Street and Fremont Avenue in downtown Los Angeles.  (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)
Fire in downtown Los Angeles
23/39
Firefighters tackle the remnants of a massive fire at the Da Vinci apartment complex project downtown Los Angeles on Dec. 8.  (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)
Fire in downtown Los Angeles
24/39
A stairwell is all that remains standing Dec. 8 as firefighters work on subduing a blaze at an apartment complex project in downtown Los Angeles.  (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)
Fire in downtown Los Angeles
25/39
Firefighters battle a blaze at a construction site on 7th street near MacArthur Park in Los Angeles on Dec. 8.  (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)
Fire in downtown Los Angeles
26/39
Firefighters tackle a fire at a construction site on 7th street near MacArthur Park in Los Angeles on Dec. 8.  (Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)
Fire in downtown Los Angeles
27/39
CalTrans crews begin the clean up process on the 110 Freeway after a massive fire that engulfed an apartment tower under construction left freeways signs damaged and debris scattered across lanes.   (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Fire in downtown Los Angeles
28/39
Parts of scaffolding are all that is left standing after a massive fire in downtown Los Angeles.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Fire in downtown Los Angeles
29/39
Parts of scaffolding are all that is left standing after a massive fire in downtown Los Angeles engulfed an apartment tower under construction.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Fire in downtown Los Angeles
30/39
Firefighters hose down hot spots after battling a massive fire in downtown Los Angeles on Dec. 8.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Fire in downtown Los Angeles
31/39
Smoke lingers on Dec. 8 after a massive fire in downtown Los Angeles engulfed an apartment tower under construction.  (Patrick T. Fallon / For the Times)
Fire in downtown Los Angeles
32/39
Firefighters spray water on the remnants of a structure fire in downtown Los Angeles. The building was completely destroyed and the intense heat heavily damaged two nearby buildings while also forcing the closure of Interstate 110.  (PAUL BUCK / EPA)
Fire in downtown Los Angeles
33/39
Los Angeles County firefighters battle a fire at an apartment building under construction next to the 110 Freeway in Los Angeles.  (Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press)
Fire in downtown Los Angeles
34/39
Los Angeles County firefighters battle a fire at an apartment building under construction next to the 110 Freeway in Los Angeles.  (Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press)
Fire in downtown Los Angeles
35/39
Los Angeles County firefighters battle a fire at an apartment building under construction next to the 110 Freeway in Los Angeles.  (Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press)
Fire in downtown Los Angeles
36/39
Los Angeles County firefighters battle a fire at an apartment building under construction next to the 110 Freeway in Los Angeles.  (Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press)
Fire in downtown Los Angeles
37/39
Firefighters work to put out flames at an apartment complex under construction in downtown Los Angeles on Dec. 8.   (Patrick T. Fallon / Los Angeles Times)
Fire in downtown Los Angeles
38/39
A fire lights the night sky near the 110 and 101 freeways in downtown Los Angeles on Dec. 8.   (Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press)
Fire in downtown Los Angeles
39/39
Firefighters deal with heavy smokes as they battle a blaze in the 900 block of Fremont Avenue in downtown Los Angeles on Dec. 8.  (Patrick J. Fallon / Los Angeles Times)
By Joseph SernaStaff Writer 

Los Angeles firefighters and arson investigators from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives discussed Monday's devastating fire in downtown Los Angeles at a news conference Wednesday morning.

The fire destroyed a 1.3 million-square-foot residential construction project and closed the 110 Freeway for hours Monday.

L.A. Fire Department leaders introduced the team investigating whether the blaze was intentionally set — which is a possibility based on the fire’s quick spread and when it started, officials said.

California
Joseph Serna

Joseph Serna is a deputy editor on the Fast Break team at the Los Angeles Times and helps oversee daily breaking news coverage.

More From the Los Angeles Times

Most Read in California

Advertisement