Fire Erupts at Vacant Koreatown Apartment Building

Crews battle blaze at three-story structure on New Hampshire Ave.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 12:53am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A sweeping landscape painting in muted tones, with billowing plumes of smoke and flames obscuring the details of a three-story apartment building in the distance, conveying the overwhelming power and danger of the fire.A raging fire in a vacant building casts an ominous glow over the Koreatown neighborhood, highlighting the risks posed by unoccupied structures.Los Angeles Today

A fire broke out on Wednesday evening inside a vacant three-story apartment building in the Koreatown neighborhood of Los Angeles. Heavy flames and smoke were reported coming from one of the units, prompting the Los Angeles Fire Department to call in additional resources to help extinguish the blaze.

Why it matters

Vacant buildings can pose significant fire risks due to lack of maintenance and security, and fires in residential areas like Koreatown can threaten nearby occupied structures and endanger the local community. The cause of this fire is still under investigation.

The details

The fire was reported around 5:20 p.m. on New Hampshire Avenue near Vermont Avenue. Firefighters arrived to find heavy flames and smoke coming from one of the units inside the vacant three-story apartment building.

  • The fire was reported around 5:20 p.m. on Wednesday, April 16, 2026.

The players

Los Angeles Fire Department

The city's fire department that responded to and worked to extinguish the blaze at the vacant apartment building.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

Investigators will work to determine the cause of the fire and assess any potential damage to surrounding structures.

The takeaway

Vacant buildings can pose serious fire risks to communities, underscoring the importance of proper maintenance and security measures to prevent such incidents from occurring.