Massive fire shuts down two LA freeways

A massive fire on Monday in downtown Los Angeles, California closed down portions of two major freeways.

Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) spokesman David Ortiz said more than 250 firefighters were battling the blaze early Monday morning.

The fire was burning a building planned to be a tall residential structure located in the 900 block of Fremont Avenue, according to The Los Angeles Times.

The LAFD told The Times that two other buildings along Figueroa Street were also damaged by the fire. A building at 331 N. Figueroa St. suffered "external damage from radiant heat," while the fire damaged several floors of a 16-story office tower at 212 N. Figueroa St, the newspaper reported.

Ortiz said the 101 Freeway was closed in both directions, while the California Highway Patrol said transition lanes between the 110 and 101 freeways were shutdown.

The cause and extent of damage done by the fire are not yet known. There were no immediate reports of injuries.

Al Jazeera and The Associated Press