East Hollywood Basement Fire Displaces 90 on Kingsley Drive

A fire that started in the basement of an East Hollywood apartment building early Thursday has left about 90 people without a home. The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) said the blaze at 560 N. Kingsley Drive spread through the walls of the three-story building and took firefighters nearly three hours to knock down.

What happened

Firefighters were dispatched at 4:24 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15, and the first units arrived within five minutes, according to an LAFD news release. About 45 minutes into the response, smoke conditions led crews to evacuate residents of the first floor, and flames coming up from below later damaged parts of that floor. The department said fire traveled through the building's walls to several floors and the roof.

Nearly 180 LAFD firefighters worked the incident, and crews requested additional resources more than once. Firefighters declared a knockdown at 7:19 a.m. Fire crews then rotated in fresh companies to relieve tired ones and begin overhaul, the work of opening up walls and ceilings to find hidden fire.

Outlets reported different firefighter counts. ABC7 Los Angeles and MyNewsLA cited about 160, while the department's own release said nearly 180 by the time the fire was knocked down. The figures may reflect different points in the response.

Who was affected

LAFD said the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety judged 60 units uninhabitable, which displaced 90 residents. ABC7 reported that more than 80 people were evacuated and said that, according to preliminary information from Building and Safety, all of the front first-floor units would be red-tagged. A red tag is a notice that a unit is unsafe to occupy. ABC7 also reported that the entire building was without power.

One adult woman was taken to a hospital and was reported in stable condition. ABC7 said everyone else got out safely. LAFD reported no other injuries in the hours after the fire started. Video from the scene showed residents standing along the street with their pets as crews worked.

Response and aid

The LAPD and the city's Emergency Management Department helped coordinate the evacuation. Metro buses were brought in to move residents, the Department of Recreation and Parks opened a temporary shelter, and the American Red Cross is providing longer-term housing assistance, according to LAFD.

ABC7 reported that LAFD Capt. Milo Cope described basement fires as hard to fight because the heat rises toward the crews working to get hoses down to the flames. He also said older buildings often lack the fire blocking that slows flames traveling inside walls.

Cause and investigation

The cause has not been determined. The LAFD Arson Section is investigating, which is the standard procedure for significant fires and does not by itself indicate that anyone suspects a crime. The department's release did not say whether smoke alarms or sprinklers were present or working, and this article does not speculate on either.

What this means for renters

For tenants in older multifamily buildings, this fire is a reminder of how quickly a fire in a hidden part of a building can reach the upper floors. A few practical steps apply to renters anywhere:

• Know two ways out. Walk your building's exits, including back stairs, and keep hallways clear.
• Test your smoke alarm monthly and tell your landlord in writing if it is missing or not working.
• Keep key documents and medications in a grab bag, or photographed and backed up on your phone.
• Carry renters insurance. Policies typically include a loss-of-use benefit that helps pay for temporary housing when a unit is unlivable. See our guide to renters insurance after a fire for details.

Residents of 560 N. Kingsley Drive who need help can contact the American Red Cross at 1-800-733-2767. Anyone displaced by a fire should keep receipts for lodging, meals and replacement clothing and ask the property manager in writing about the status of their unit, their lease and their security deposit. Our first-72-hours checklist walks through those steps.

The building was constructed in 1924, and LAFD has not said when residents might be able to return. We will update this story if officials release a cause or a timeline for repairs.