A devastating fire engulfed the iconic Morrison Hotel in downtown Los Angeles on Thursday morning, causing significant damage to the landmark building. The blaze, which erupted around 11:00 AM, required a massive response from the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD). Over 100 firefighters battled the flames for nearly two hours before bringing the fire under control. While no injuries were reported, the building sustained significant structural damage, including a partial roof collapse.
The Morrison Hotel, built in 1914, holds a special place in music history. Its image graced the cover of The Doors’ 1970 album, “Morrison Hotel,” solidifying its place in rock and roll lore. In recent years, the building had fallen into disrepair and was acquired by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation with plans to convert it into affordable housing. The site has been in the news recently due to the tragic killing of Johnny Wactor, a local bartender who was fatally shot there in front of the building last year.
The fire broke out in the 1200 block of S Hope Street in Downtown Los Angeles. Firefighters arrived to find a vacant, four-story building (three floors residential over one floor of commercial units) with light smoke showing. The nearly 50,000 square foot, E-shaped building, already red-tagged by the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) prior to the fire, sustained significant damage.
Firefighters encountered heavy fire on the fourth floor. While LAFD was arriving on scene, several dozen people, many of which are being labeled as unhoused, self-evacuated the structure. As firefighters were making their way through the building, they located and safely evacuated an additional three people from the third floor. After one hour and 37 minutes, under the command of Assistant Chief Melford Beard, firefighters extinguished the fire with no injuries reported.
Due to the extensive damage and safety concerns, firefighters were unable to fully extinguish all pockets of fire within the structure. Human Remains Detection K9s will be used, once safe, to search the building. The decision on the future of the historic building resides with LADBS.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the LAFD Arson and Counter-Terrorism Section (ACTS).
