One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Firefighters Battle Massive Downtown Fire, Fumes Infused With Chili Peppers
(Photo courtesy of LAFD/Jorge Arellano)
Nearly 200 firefighters responded to a fire that overtook a downtown L.A. wholesale building on Sunday, reports the L.A. Times. The smoke from the massive blaze could be seen from across the city.
The fire was first reported at about 6:30 p.m. in the 800 block of South Central Avenue. The building contained large bulks of goods, with red chili peppers being among them. The chili peppers added an extra irritant to the fumes; the scent was so strong that, even after the fire was extinguished, it remained an active irritant, according to one CBS reporter:
MORE: Burning chili peppers still irritating eyes, throats near corner Central Ave/8th as arson investigates #cbsla pic.twitter.com/VcYb2lEkrQ
— Kara Finnstrom (@KaraFinnstrom) March 13, 2017
Burning chili peppers stored in downtown L.A. building that caught fire made it hard for firefighters to breathe. https://t.co/p1tbM2Jwli
— CBS Los Angeles (@CBSLA) March 13, 2017
Margaret Stewart, a spokesperson with the Los Angeles Fire Department, told LAist that the chili-infused fumes didn't delay firefighting procedures. Though she added that the fumes were particularly irritating. "With the added irritant, some were experiencing burning eyes. It was almost like a mild macing," said Stewart.
The bulk of the fire was extinguished within two hours of the firefighters' arrival.
Sponsored message
No one was injured from the fire. The cause of the blaze is still under investigation. Stewart says that the amount of "combustibles," including the amount of bulk goods, had made it harder for investigators to get into the building.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
