A Pico River fire in an apartment complex east of Los Angeles has injured three people, including a child, and drove 300 people from their homes, authorities say.
Los Angeles County fire officials say the blaze erupted at around 3:30 p.m. Thursday in a vacant apartment of the three-story building in Pico Rivera. Dozens of apartments shared a single attic that allowed flames to spread quickly and they roared through the roof, collapsing part of it.
Firefighters were forced to leave the building and pour streams of water on the flames from outside.
About 200 firefighters were making good progress as night fell.
Fire officials say two people, including a child, were treated for smoke inhalation and a firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion.
Forty-five apartments had fire or smoke damage and about 100 have no power.
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