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Photos: Fire Breaks Out In Brentwood High-Rise [UPDATED]
A fire broke out on the 11th floor of a high-rise apartment building in Brentwood this morning. Residents were evacuated, 200 firefighters rushed to put out the flames and at least three people were hospitalized for injuries from smoke inhalation.
The fire was reported around 11:45 a.m. in the 11700 block of Wilshire Boulevard, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. The blaze isn't out yet, but firefighters say that it's contained. The injuries from smoke inhalation are not believed to be serious or life-threatening.
The fire started in a two-bedroom apartment, according to CBS Los Angeles.
LAFD Cpt. Jamie Moore told CBS Los Angeles that this building where 700 people live didn't have any sprinklers (though it's not required to). Additionally, some residents in the floors above the fire ignored the alarms but firefighters are checking those floors to make sure they're okay.
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Here are some of the photos being tweeted out from the scene:
#PHOTO Residents on balconies as fire burns in Brentwood high rise, @LAFD aggressively battling blaze @LAScanner pic.twitter.com/4MhfNcuHD1
— RMG News (@RMGNews) October 18, 2013
UPDATE, OCTOBER 19, 12:00 p.m. CNS reports that at least 10 people were injured in the blaze, including three firefighters and a critically injured 2-year-old girl who was found in a smoke-filled stairwell on the 23rd floor.
"Firefighters did have to perform CPR on the girl and she is now with her doctors at a hospital,'' fire department Capt. Jaime Moore told CNS.
Three people were taken to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center where one was treated and released and two others remained in critical condition. The three firefighters who received non-life-threatening burns were treated at a burn center and released later that night.
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Sadly, a dog was killed in the fire.
The Red Cross set up a reception center for displaced residents at University High School. Besides smoke and fire damage, several units were also damaged by water used to fight the fire.
As of 8:30 p.m., at least 51 out of an estimated 100 to 150 displaced residents were allowed to return to the building.
The cause of the fire remained under investigation.
The 386-unit building was built in 1961 and was not equipped with a sprinkler system, because it was grandfathered in and not required to be so equipped, according to the LAFD.
UPDATE 3:20 p.m.: The fire is out but more details are emerging about the injured. One child is in critical condition and five adults were injured, according to NBC Los Angeles. Three firefighters also had non-life-threatening injures to their ears and legs. One child and adult found on the 23rd floor were brought to the roof for treatment before being airlifted to the hospital.
Firefighters added that some residents of the building didn't hear the alarms that went off.
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