A devastating fire tore through a unit in a downtown Los Angeles high-rise early Tuesday morning, resulting in the death of one resident. The blaze, which broke out at approximately 2:02 a.m. on September 16, 2025, required a massive response from the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) and presented significant challenges for crews battling the flames.
Early Morning Blaze in Historic Tower
The fire originated in a corner unit on the seventh floor of the 12-story residential building located at 112 W. Fifth Street, an address known as the Rosslyn Lofts, formerly the historic Rosslyn Hotel. Over 100 firefighters from the LAFD were dispatched to the scene, where they found smoke billowing from the seventh-floor apartment. The response was quickly escalated to a Major Emergency incident due to the inherent complexities of fighting fires in high-rise structures, where crews must carry heavy equipment up multiple flights of stairs as elevators are typically not usable under such conditions.
Critical Challenges Hamper Firefighting Efforts
Upon reaching the affected unit, firefighters encountered a critical obstacle: “excessive storage conditions” within the apartment. This severe clutter and heavy debris obstructed access to the seat of the fire, significantly slowing down the efforts to extinguish the blaze and ensure no smoldering hot spots remained. Despite these difficulties, fire crews were able to limit and control the fire, preventing it from extending to adjacent units. Assistant Chief Paul Pham led the operation, and an official knockdown was declared in approximately 50 minutes.
Fatality and Building Safety
Tragically, amid the efforts to combat the fire and clear the debris, firefighters discovered one victim inside the unit where the fire originated. The individual was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have not yet released the identity of the deceased. No injuries were reported among the firefighters involved in the operation.
Following the incident, the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety inspected the structure. Two units, including the one where the fire started and an adjacent vacant unit, were “yellow-tagged,” restricting access. However, the rest of the building was deemed safe for residents to return. A cat was also rescued from near the fire unit and received supportive medical care before being transferred to Los Angeles Animal Services.
Investigation Underway
The LAFD Arson and Counter-Terrorism Section (ACTS) is conducting an investigation to determine the cause of the fire, a standard procedure when a fatality is involved. The excessive storage conditions within the unit are a significant factor being considered as the investigation proceeds.
Community Impact
Resident Courtney Salmon described the smoke as toxic and characterized the event as the “most significant fire we’ve had in the building”. The incident highlights ongoing concerns about fire safety in older high-rise buildings, particularly those with residential units that may contain significant amounts of stored materials. The area around Fifth and Main Street was temporarily closed to traffic to facilitate emergency operations. This breaking news from Los Angeles serves as a somber reminder of the dangers posed by fires in densely populated urban environments. The Los Angeles Times and other local news outlets featured the developing story throughout Tuesday. Investigations are expected to shed further light on the circumstances leading to this fatal incident.
