Update: Fire in Echo Park Commercial Building Takes Nearly Two Hours to Contain

A "stubborn" fire in Echo Park Tuesday night took 125 firefighters to extinguish.

They took an hour and 52 minutes to put out the flames at 1625 Palo Alto St., finally calling a knockdown at 11:47 p.m.

The fire began in a rear corner near the freeway and spread through the third floor, causing parts of the roof to collapse.

LAFD Assistant Chief Ralph Terrazas told Patch that the LAFD arson unit was investigating the cause of the fire.

But he noted that the fire appeared to have started behind the building, where there was a homeless camp next to the 101.

The building, a former piano company, houses a variety of businesses, including a loan business, a printing shop, a builder and a small church, the Calvery Chapel. 

Local residents crowded the area, taking pictures and looking on. They were eventually pushed back out by a fire line.

Extensive water and smoke damage did not extend to vehicles parked in a yard outside the building and owned by the builder.

Five firefighters were reported "injured" at one point, but they quickly returned to duties after being checked out by paramedics.

Traffic on the 101 Freeway was backed up for miles. The two southbound lanes were closed, along with the Union Street onramp.

The streets bounded by Glendale Boulevard, Beverly Boulevard and Bonmie Brae Avenue were also expected to be closed to traffic through the morning as firefighters monitored the site.

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