Death Of A Landmark: The Morrison Hotel, immortalized on the cover of The Doors’ 1970 album, suffered devastating damage in a fire on December 26, marking a significant loss for music history. UCR reports that the blaze ravaged the 110-year-old downtown Los Angeles landmark as firefighters battled for nearly two hours to control the flames.
Swift Response Required: Loudersound reports that more than 100 firefighters responded to the four-story structure around 11 a.m., discovering several dozen people evacuating the technically vacant building. Three additional individuals required rescue from the third floor via fire escapes, though no injuries were reported.
Historic Legacy Threatened: The building gained fame through photographer Henry Diltz’s iconic album cover shoot, captured in December 1969. “It’s very sad because it’s such a historic place,” Diltz told local media, recalling the spontaneous nature of the shoot when the band snuck in against hotel policy.
Future Plans Disrupted: Recently purchased by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation for $11.9 million, the building was slated for conversion into affordable housing. Despite efforts to secure the property with steel plates and fencing, individuals repeatedly gained unauthorized access using power tools.
Structural Concerns Mount: The fire caused significant damage, including partial roof collapse, complicating firefighting efforts. The Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety will determine whether the already red-tagged structure can be salvaged.
