Los Angeles firefighters battled a stubborn fire that broke out this morning a popular restaurant and bar on the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street in Hollywood.
The fire was reported around 5:30 a.m. at the Basque Nightclub and Restaurant located at 1707 North Vine Street.
Flames could be seen shooting 40 feet into the air as firefighters, using ladder trucks, worked to douse the flames from above.
Firefighters - concerned that the roof could collapse because of heavy air-conditioning units atop the building - moved into a "defensive" posture after about 20 minutes and worked to prevent the flames from spreading to other structures.
The building was reportedly being renovated and was unnocupied at the time. No injuries were reported.
The fire was said to have started in the attic of the building.
The blaze was designated as a major emergency fire with at least 23 fire engines and 180 firefighters on scene.
KTLA crews noticed a shift in a billboard above the building, which was apparently buckling from the heat of the fire, causing concern of a possible collapse. Fire crews quickly began dousing the billboard to prevent any further damage.
Traffic was being routed away from the area of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street while the investigation continued. The subway in the area remained open.
The fire appeared to be under control around 8:00 a.m., however, firefighters battled a flare-up less than an hour later. Crews were expected to monitor the situation throughout the day.
Four businesses were damaged - the nightclub, a tattoo parlor, a beauty supply company and a vacant shoe store, officials said.
The building, built in the 1920s or 1930s has been a Brown Derby restaurant, a Howard Johnson's restaurant, a nightclub called Deep, a music studio and other businesses through the years.
Scenes from the movie "Ocean's Eleven" were shot at the nightclub, on property recently sold as part of a renaissance in Hollywood, City Councilman Eric Garcetti told KTLA .
It's also where Lindsay Lohan celebrated her 21st birthday and where Kanye West partied just nine days ago.
Garcetti praised firefighters for their efforts in containing the flames to the single structure.
"This is the most famous neighborhood in the world, and Hollywood and Vine is our calling card here," Garcetti said. "I mean - everybody knows Hollywood and Vine."
Garcetti said investigators were working to determine if the fire was intentionally set, or if it was connected to other recent fires in the area.
On Saturday afternoon, a fire, apparently sparked by faulty wiring, gutted the "Off Vine," restaurant at 6263 West Leland Way, which is about two blocks south of Wednesday's fire location.
The weekend fire, which left two firefighters injured, caused about $450,000 in damage to the century-old two-story house that had been converted into an eatery, said Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey.
Owners vowed to rebuild the restaurant, which has served celebrities and families for more than 20 years.