A fire heavily damaged several businesses in a strip mall in the popular NoHo Arts District today.
The fire was reported about 5:35 a.m. in the 5200 block of North Lankershim Boulevard. The flames burned through the roof of the single-story, 75-foot-by-150-foot building and prompted firefighters to go into a defensive mode, battling the blaze from the exterior, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
As many as five businesses were damaged, including Tokyo Delve's Sushi Bar, Greenhouse Juice Bar and Chill Rollz ice cream shop. The fire started inside or in the vicinity of Tokyo Delve's, according to reports from the scene, and took two hours and 16 minutes to extinguish.
"Look at the damage," Chill Rollz owner Tina Ajserjyan told NBC4. "There's no way of reconstructing this. I put every penny I have in my ice cream shop. It's all gone."
Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Krekorian, who represents the area, lamented the loss of the businesses in an area of town known as a community gathering spot.
"This is the heart of NoHo," Krekorian told NBC4. "It's a historic building. It's a place where people know throughout the city and they love to come here."
The fire spread through a common attic in the building, according to the LAFD, which sent arson investigators to the scene as is protocol for a multi-business fire.
A fistfight broke out at the scene, involving the owners of two of the businesses, according to media reports. Three men were arrested: two on suspicion of battery and one on a warrant, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. One of them was taken to a hospital for treatment of an injury described as not life-threatening.
The NoHo Arts District is home to theaters, art galleries, restaurants, bars and shops. A stretch of heavily traveled Lankershim Boulevard was closed in the area while crews worked to clear the scene.
Three people in custody in connection with fire in #NorthHollywood. pic.twitter.com/VohQbH0Wiy
— Craig Fiegener (@CraigNews3LV) June 10, 2019#NorthHollywood #fire @KNX1070 pic.twitter.com/qVfpFrcAV7
— Craig Fiegener (@CraigNews3LV) June 10, 2019This person previously in handcuffs... says he's not under arrest.... handcuffs are off. He's being treated by firefighters. #NorthHollywood pic.twitter.com/Eq6igRApeo
— Craig Fiegener (@CraigNews3LV) June 10, 2019
