110-Year-Old Morrison Hotel in Downtown LA Damaged by Fire, No Injuries Reported

Dec 27, 2024, 06:04 AM

A fire broke out at the historic Morrison Hotel building in downtown Los Angeles on Thursday, causing significant damage to the 110-year-old structure located at 1246 S Hope St. The building, once featured on the cover of The Doors' 1970 album 'Morrison Hotel,' was engulfed in flames around 11 a.m. The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) reported that over 100 firefighters from 17 fire companies battled the blaze, which was declared a major emergency. The fire was contained after about an hour and a half with no injuries reported. Several dozen homeless individuals were observed escaping the building, which had been vacant and used by squatters. Firefighters rescued three people from the building. The building's roof collapsed, raising concerns about its structural integrity. The building had been purchased by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation with plans to convert it into affordable housing, but it was red-tagged prior to the fire. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the LAFD Arson unit.