Crime & Safety
Fire Breaks Out at LAX
Firefighters say a welder ignited debris in a Terminal 6 elevator shaft, causing employees and passengers to be evacuated.
A small fire broke out in an elevator under construction at Los Angeles International Airport today, causing some passenger and employee evacuations from Terminal 6.
Firefighters at the scene said construction debris in an elevator shaft was apparently ignited by a welder. A large contingent of firefighters was sent to the airport terminal at 8:36 a.m., said L.A. fire spokesman Shawn Lenske.
Firefighters had the fire out at 8:49 a.m., Lenske said, but smoke lingered in the terminal and fans were being used to freshen the air.
Find out what's happening in Hollywoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
A large number of passengers and employees were evacuated to a secure area of the terminal, and did not need to be rescreened by security agents before being allowed to board flights. TSA agents resumed normal screening operations just after 9:00 a.m., firefighters said.
A Los Angeles World Airports spokesperson said no flight delays were reported.
Find out what's happening in Hollywoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
A construction superintendent at the terminal was quoted by arriving firefighters that a small fire had broken out in an elevator shaft. Heat and smoke were observed from the elevator, which was in what firefighters at the scene called a "non-public area."
Terminal 6 is used by Allegiant, Continental, Frontier, Great Lakes and some United flights, according to Los Angeles World Airports data.
--City News Service
