NewsCalifornia News

Actions

Fire destroys historic Los Angeles Poor Farm buildings

Firefighter (FILE)
Posted
and last updated

DOWNEY, Calif. (AP) — Fire departments say a fire has destroyed more of the historic Los Angeles County Poor Farm.

The Downey Fire Department announced Thursday that the fire on the vacant south campus of the Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center has been put out.

The sprawling campus opened in 1888, offering ranch work and medical care to disabled, ill, elderly and homeless people.

It became a hospital for chronic illnesses until the 1950s, when a polio epidemic turned it into a rehabilitation center.

The property is split by Imperial Highway. KCAL-TV reports the abandoned buildings on the south side have been plagued by vandalism.

,

Weather

Daily Forecast

View Hourly Forecast

Day

Conditions

HI / LO

Precip

Monday

05/12/2025

Mostly Cloudy

-° / 53°

3%

Tuesday

05/13/2025

Clear

72° / 53°

2%

Wednesday

05/14/2025

Mostly Clear

80° / 56°

0%

Thursday

05/15/2025

Partly Cloudy

87° / 61°

0%

Friday

05/16/2025

Partly Cloudy

89° / 61°

1%

Saturday

05/17/2025

Partly Cloudy

82° / 56°

15%

Sunday

05/18/2025

Partly Cloudy

76° / 57°

12%

Monday

05/19/2025

Clear

83° / 60°

0%