Three-Alarm Fire Guts Vacant Building in Industry

A three-alarm fire gutted a large abandoned commercial building in Industry today, and three firefighters suffered minor injuries battling the blaze, but a dog that was apparently living in the building was rescued.

The blaze in the 700 block of South Ninth Avenue was reported about 10:20 a.m., according to county fire Inspector Tony Akins. The building once housed a food-packing business.

Three firefighters were taken to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries, Akins said. Two of them suffered heat-related injuries, he said.

Fire crews battled the blaze from outside the building as flames chewed through the roof, part of which later collapsed.

The fire was declared knocked down at 2:05 p.m. County fire officials said a search still needed to be done of the building's basement, where the fire apparently began, to determine if anyone had been inside the building.

Because of the intense fire, crews were not initially able to fully search the basement, according to the county Fire Department.

Because the building is next to railroad tracks, Metrolink trains 402 and 411, one headed to Riverside from Los Angeles' Union Station and the other going in the opposite direction, were replaced by bus service, according to Metrolink spokeswoman Delana Gbenekama.

The cause of the fire remained under investigation, and a damage estimate had not yet been determined.

Firefighters adopted a defensive position because it was an abandoned building.

- City News Service