RIP Kohler Street

(Image via KTLA)

If you live or work anywhere near downtown, you may already be aware of the massive fire that destroyed two buildings on Kohler Street and damaged three others (and released a horrifying amount of smoke into the air).

An outside storage area caught on fire (LAFD is investigating the cause), which spread to the buildings. The fire was so dangerous that LAFD had to send robots into some 'deep-seated pockets of fire".

It took 170 firefighters over 5 hours to extinguish the blaze.

Four of the affected buildings were commercial. One was a "vacant apartment building". Reports have not yet specified whether the empty apartment building was one of the three survivors, but even if it was, any fire damage would need to be repaired to make it safe to inhabit.

KTLA didn't specify an address for the burned apartment building. I have to wonder why it was empty. The only abated buildings on those two blocks (743 and 741 Kohler Street) are both commercial buildings, so they aren't likely suspects.

While the fire began at 683 Kohler Street, it apparently spread to 749 Kohler Street.

It is true that the buildings at 749-769 Kohler Street are listed for sale together. However, I hasten to add that foul play seems unlikely. The fire did break out half a block away in the 600 block of Kohler Street, and the listing does disclose that four of the units are leased (along with the current rental income).

Regardless, fires suck.

600 and 700 blocks of Kohler Street, Warehouse District.

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