A series of fires wreaked havoc through Downtown Los Angeles in the early hours of Monday morning. The fire destroyed one building and set others alight, reaching nearby highways that were promptly closed. Other fires also broke out in the city around the same time.

A fire broke out at an under-construction apartment building in Downtown Los Angeles at around 1:20 a.m Monday, according to the Los Angeles Times. The fire engulfed an apartment complex at the 900 block of Fremont Avenue and prompted a response of around 250 firefighters. The fire consumed the structure, mostly composed of wood framing, and also touched two nearby buildings.

A fire station located near by was the first to respond, as the fire covered the seven-story building. The fire leaped 40 feet above the structure.

“When they came out of the quarters they could see it was fully engulfed,” fire department spokesperson Katherine Main said. “It was a building under construction in the framing phase. Almost 1 million square feet and a city block.”

The fire, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department, also damaged two nearby buildings on Figueroa Street. One sustained "external damage from radiant heat," while another 16-story office tower was damaged by the fire and water from its sprinkler system.

"Large windows gave under the amount of heat," LAFD spokesperson Jaime Moore said. "There was active fire on three floors."

Glass from the structure rained down on firefighters who tried to battle the blaze.

According to KTLA, the fire spread to nearby highways 110 and 101, prompting their closures. Though the southbound lanes of both highways were reopened by 4:40 a.m., the northbound lanes remained closed. Paint and metal signs melted under the extreme heat.

Another fire broke out later Monday morning at around 4:09 a.m. to which 100 firefighters were deployed. The fire engulfed a two-story apartment under renovation on 2871 W. 7th St. in the Westlake neighborhood.

Local residents took to social media to post photos of the fire, which could be seen from as far away as the Hollywood Hills.