Two people are dead and another is in grave condition after a fire Thursday night at an abandoned commercial building on Long Beach Boulevard, according to authorities.
Fire crews were called to the blaze in the area of Long Beach Boulevard and Esther Street, which is just south of Pacific Coast Highway, at around 8:52 p.m.
There, Long Beach Fire Department personnel were met with heavy fire and smoke coming from the building, the LBFD said.
While some firefighters worked to put out the flames, other crew members searched the building where they found a man and two women inside, officials said.
The man died at the scene, and one of the women died after being taken to the hospital, the LBFD said. The other woman remained in grave condition Friday morning, according to the department.
Details on the victims weren’t immediately available. The LBFD is still working to determine what caused the blaze.
Editor’s note: This story was updated with information that a second person died.