Massive fire burns commercial building in Paramount
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A large one-story commercial building in Paramount caught fire Monday morning, prompting a huge response from city and county firefighters.
Aerial video showed the 55-foot-long, 75-foot-wide building in the 7300 block of Somerset Avenue backing up to tract houses perilously close to the blaze. The entire roof of the structure collapsed. According to the Los Angeles County Fire Department, there were no reports of injuries or of anyone trapped inside the building.
After the fire was knocked down, evidence was discovered inside consistent with drugs. Officials are still trying to determine the cause of the fire and the the nexus for the narcotics. They have not yet identified the property owner or determined what type of business the building housed.
“The matter is still under investigation,” Sgt. Benjamin Grubb said.
Firefighters were seen battling the flames from the ground and from the roof of a building next door. At least three county Fire Department engines were on the scene, in addition to Southern California Edison and the Gas Co., while crowds gathered at the back end of the street. A massive plume of black smoke overtook the block as the fire burned steadily.
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