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

Sunday

03/29/2026

Sunny

89° / 61°

0%

Monday

03/30/2026

Mostly Cloudy

88° / 64°

0%

Tuesday

03/31/2026

PM Showers

71° / 57°

37%

Wednesday

04/01/2026

Mostly Sunny

75° / 54°

11%

Thursday

04/02/2026

AM Clouds/PM Sun

71° / 46°

23%

Friday

04/03/2026

Mostly Sunny

75° / 51°

2%

Saturday

04/04/2026

Partly Cloudy

84° / 55°

0%

Sunday

04/05/2026

Mostly Sunny

87° / 57°

0%