Official reports from the Los Angeles Fire Department or related authorities

110-Year-Old Morrison Hotel, Featured on The Doors' Album, Damaged by Fire in Los Angeles

Dec 27, 2024, 03:30 PM

A historic building in downtown Los Angeles, once known as the Morrison Hotel and famously featured on the cover of The Doors' 1970 album of the same name, was heavily damaged by a fire on Thursday. The 110-year-old, four-story structure, vacant for over a decade, had been used as a training site for the Los Angeles Fire Department. The fire, which started around 11 a.m., required the efforts of more than 100 firefighters to bring under control after nearly two hours. Several dozen people, including some believed to be homeless, managed to escape the building before the fire department arrived. Three individuals were rescued from the third floor by firefighters using ladders. No injuries were reported, but the building's roof partially collapsed, casting doubt on its structural integrity. The cause of the fire is under investigation, and the future of the building will be determined by the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety. The building was purchased by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation with plans to convert it into affordable housing. Henry Diltz, the photographer behind the iconic album cover, expressed sadness over the damage and hopes for its reconstruction.