Dramatic fire rips through textile business in downtown LA's Fashion District

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A massive fire raged through a downtown Los Angeles textile building early Friday, sending towering flames and plumes of smoke high into the air.

It took 120 firefighters more than four hours to get the blaze under control, leaving the building a total loss but fortunately resulting in no injuries.

The blaze began shortly after 5 a.m. at the building, described as a family-owned textile business, in the 1400 block of South Main Street.

Firefighters on scene initially took an aggressive approach, entering the building and positioning on the roof to fight the flames. But they soon had to pull back into defensive mode for safety, remaining on the exterior as flames consumed the building and eventually the roof collapsed. They were focused on containing the spread and in particular making sure it didn't reach other businesses that also had textiles and other flammable materials.

"We had to withdraw, take a defensive posture, let the materials burn off while controlling the fire spread, and protecting the buildings on the outside," said David Ortiz, spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department. "Basically just let the material burn itself down, so finally our water cannon could get to the seat of the fire.

A knockdown was declared at 9:21 a.m.

No injuries were immediately reported.

The owner of the business told Eyewitness News she and her family are devastated by the loss but she was too emotional to speak on camera.

Investigators are talking to witnesses and looking for video to determine the cause of the blaze.