DAMAGE: An electrical spark from a light fixture ignited samples in the Creative Concepts showroom, according to fire officials.
NEWS
Fire Damages Showroom in the California Market Center
Approximately 40 firefighters and 12 fire trucks responded to a California Market Center showroom fire that occurred Thursday morning on the second floor of the building, authorities said.
The fire in the Creative Concepts showroom in suite A272 was started when a sales person walked in around 9 a.m., flicked on a light switch, which prompted an electrical spark to go flying and burn clothing samples, said Peter Jacobson, owner of the space, which houses the Creative Concepts showroom and Jacobson’s distribution company FashionLink. Jacobson has been in the building for more than 30 years. “A light blew out,” Jacobson said, as he was walking down a smoke-filled hallway. “Thank God nobody was hurt.”
Capt. Rick Godinez of the Los Angeles Fire Department said several companies responded to the call received at 9:08 a.m. and arrived a few minutes later. The closest fire station to the CMC is located at 7th and Wall streets, but other fire companies from South Central Los Angeles, Boyle Heights and close to the University of Southern California responded. “A switch blew, which blew a hot piece onto a rack of clothes,” Godinez said. “The sprinklers pretty much knocked the fire out.”
Water from the sprinklers flowed down to the main floor and flooded the Citibank branch below. CMC workers were mopping up water as fast as they could. Sheets of plastic covered a stretch of teller windows. The smell of smoke hung in the air.
“We are calling our people in to assess the damage,” said Albert Pulido, the bank’s manager. The bank’s doors were open and they were trying to help as many customers as they could, but they were directing most customers to other Citibank branches in downtown Los Angeles.
CMC President Jaime Lee said the building is working with LAFD investigators to assess the exact cause and circumstances of the fire.
