L.A. high-rise fire: Building not equipped with sprinkler system

October 18, 2013, 1:22 p.m.

A 25-story West Los Angeleshigh-rise where an 11th-floor fire erupted Friday is not equipped with a sprinkler system, fire officials said.

The blaze broke out about 11:45 a.m. on the 11th floor of the 52-year-oldBarrington Plaza apartments in the 11700 block of Wilshire Boulevard. Within minutes, huge plumes of black smoke were billowing out of several building windows and flames began to climb up the exterior.

Three balconies above the blaze were scorched black from the fire. The building is nearly 380,000-square-feet and has 472 units.

In less than an hour, much of the smoke and flames had subsided and the blaze was mostly contained with crews checking the apartments for other hot spots. More than 200 firefighters responded to the blaze, which was "mostly contained" shortly after 1 p.m., fire department Brian Humphrey said.

Residents on and above the 11th floor, but not all of them, heeded the fire warning, Humphrey said. At least two residents were being treated for smoke inhalation, with one being taken to the hospital, he added.

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L.A. high-rise fire: Building not equipped with sprinkler system