At least 200 Los Angeles firefighters were battling a massive building fire early Monday morning after flames engulfed a luxury apartment complex under construction. The blaze shut down two highways and damaged two nearby buildings.
Los Angeles firefighters responded to the blaze around 1.20am local time on Temple Street, according to the department’s Twitter account. The flames could be seen from miles away, according to reports from the Los Angeles Times, citing photos captured from the Hollywood Hills.
Two nearby buildings, including the city’s health department, were damaged by heat from the fire, and water from firefighters efforts’ to contain it. The fire was so intense that large window panes were giving way under the heat, causing firefighters to caution journalists to stay away.
It’s unclear if two major highways will be open by rush hour, during the city’s notoriously hectic morning commute. The fire closed the 110 and 101 highways, according to the California Highway Patrol, and the fire department was urging motorists to stay clear of the area.
The building was set to be a block-long luxury apartment complex with several high-end amenities, including a gym, library, indoor basketball court and a theater.
