Photographs show devastation left behind LA fire as US authorities suspect arson
Los Angeles city fire department has estimated the damage to run to costing more than $10million
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A fire in LA so hot that it reduced a multi-storey building to melted rubble may have been started by arsonists, US authorities said today.
Photographs emerging from Downtown Los Angeles show the building as a collapsed ruin after the blaze, which saw 250 firefighters battling the flames yesterday with many still on site dealing with smoldering debris.
The strength of the flames can be seen in images recording the devastation surrounding West Temple Street, an east-west motorway which travels through the centre of the busy city.
Shocked residents found road signs melted and windows cracked or destroyed from the heat of the flames – streets away from the epicentre of the blaze.
It is estimated that the incident – known locally as the Da Vinci fire – caused roughly $10 million, city fire captain Jaime Moore told the Los Angeles Times.
The swift eruption of the blaze has already led investigators to suspect arson.
"It's very rare for the entire building to be engulfed at once," Moore said. "There may have been foul play."
Additional reporting by Associated Press
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments