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The fire in downtown Los Angeles could be seen for miles early Monday.(Photo: Eric Politzer @epolitzerphoto)
A massive fire at a Los Angeles construction site the size of a city block shut down sections of two major freeways for hours early Monday.
Hundreds of firefighters battled the blaze, which broke out about 1:10 a.m. PT and could be seen for miles.
"This is a historic fire, what we as firefighters would call a career fire. It's huge," Fire Department spokesman David Ortiz told NBC News. "I really can't remember a building fire this big and I have been with the department for 13 years."
The intense heat of the blaze melted nearby highway signs and burst windows of surrounding buildings, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The fire, which shut sections of the 110 and 101 freeways, was being fed by wood framing at a planned seven-story, 1.3 million-square-foot luxury apartment complex. Ortiz said he didn't think anyone was living or working there when the fire started.
Fire officials said two other buildings were also damaged, including several floors of a 16-story office tower.
The 101 Freeway, which had been closed in both directions, reopened after several hours. The 110 southbound also was reopened, but northbound remained will remain closed "due to possible burned framing collapsing onto freeway," the department said on its Twitter account. Ortiz told local media the cause of the fire had not been determined. There were no immediate reports of injuries.
The fire started at the DaVinci apartment complex, billed on its website as providing a "world-class resort apartment home." Construction has been underway for more than two years. Ortiz said the structure appeared to be "completely lost."
"Experience urban-style elegance and European living in the heart of downtown Los Angeles," the website says. "The Da Vinci, the newest member of the Renaissance collection, will offer fifteen unique floor plans to match your lifestyle. Indulge in world-class amenities, such as a state of the art fitness facility, a full size indoor basketball court, a residential lounge, a library, a theater and a business center."
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