Building Evacuated by 3rd Floor Blaze

A raging fire forced dozens of residents to evacuate a West Hollywood apartment building Thursday, leaving a badly damaged structure but no injuries, according to firefighters.

The fire began about 8:20p.m. on the top floor of a three-story, 71-unit apartment house in the 500 block of North Croft Avenue, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Five county fire units responded to the blaze, which was put out in 45 minutes. Frightened residents were told by firefighters to wait in their apartments with doors closed until they could be escorted out, in order to keep the fire from spreading to other units.

Displaced people spent the night at a shelter at a nearby school.