Fire in West Hollywood Building Causes $2.5M Damage

Feb. 19, 2014
A passerby said he saw two people hurl something at the office building.

WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Arson investigators were on the scene of an early-morning fire at a West Hollywood office building that injured two firefighters, shut down a busy thoroughfare and caused an estimated $2.5 million in damage, authorities said.

The fire was reported around 2:30 a.m. Tuesday on Santa Monica Boulevard near the intersection of La Cienega Boulevard, Los Angeles County Fire Inspector Tony Akins said.

A passerby, Mitch Jackson, told KABC-TV (http://bit.ly/1gf8eKJ ) that he saw two people hurl something at the two-story building shortly before the flames erupted.

"There was a guy throwing what looked to be like firebombs through the window downstairs," he said.

Investigators were interviewing several witnesses and would review cellphone video taken at the scene, Akins said.

More than 100 firefighters took just over an hour to knock down the two-alarm blaze. Damage was estimated at $2.5 million, officials said.

Two firefighters were treated at a hospital for minor injuries.

Firefighters checked the building twice to be certain no one was inside and could not find anyone, Akins said.

Santa Monica Boulevard and side streets were shut down for several hours.

Among the businesses at the address are a talent agency and building management company, KABC-TV reported.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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