Encampment Fire Spreads to Commercial Building

Vernon, Los Angeles County, CA: A commercial building burned when it caught fire from an apparent homeless encampment at the rear of the building late Friday night.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department received a call around 10:50 p.m., Apr. 7, regarding a commercial structure fire on the 4600 block of South Santa Fe Avenue and 48th Street in the city of Vernon.

Firefighters arrived and reported a commercial building fire with smoke showing from the rear of the building.

LACoFD crews encountered difficulty reaching the fire. Firefighters cut through fences to access the rear of the building where the fire started from an apparent homeless encampment.

It took firefighters around 45 minutes to an hour to achieve knockdown of the flames.

Michael Ullo, Video Journalist / KNN