California homeless encampment may be responsible for apartment building blaze, officials say

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Tenants race to escape apartment building fire

Three people suffering injuries as four apartments were destroyed in North Hollywood, California.

A nearby homeless encampment may be responsible for a raging fire that tore through a Southern California apartment building early Wednesday, injuring three people.

The Los Angeles Fire Department said the blaze was reported at an apartment building in North Hollywood around 1:13 a.m. and was extinguished in 38 minutes by 87 firefighters.

Video from the scenes showed fierce flames coming from the two-story apartment building and residents going door-to-door to alert others to the blaze.

Residents helped evacuated an apartment building in North Hollywood, Calif. early Wednesday after a raging fire broke out.

A 57-year-old man was taken to the hospital with burns, while a 30-year-old woman was transported with smoke inhalation, according to the LAFD. Their conditions were not immediately known.

One other person suffered minor burns but was not hospitalized, authorities said.

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"Thank God for the fire department," resident Moises Lerma told ABC7. "They got here quick. I mean, they came in and took care of what they're supposed to do."

The fire was believed to have started at a nearby homeless encampment, fire officials told FOX11, but the cause still remains under investigation.

Four apartments were destroyed in the blaze, the fire department said.