More than 350 firefighters battle massive downtown LA blaze

A pair of massive fires burst across the Los Angeles skyline, severely damaging as many as four buildings and closing down freeways during the morning commute.

No injuries were reported but the flames near a downtown freeway interchange could be seen for miles and billowing clouds of smoke closed down adjacent highways in two directions.

A seven story apartment building under construction was severely damaged, as were two adjacent office towers, city fire officials said.

A second fire a short drive away also caused severe damage to a building housing apartments and commercial spaces that was under renovation.

Both fires were brought under control.

More than 350 fire fighters were battling the blazes, a quarter of the city's fire fighting force, Los Angeles Fire Department public information officer David Ortiz told AFP.

"There was a great impact due to both fires on local commute traffic," Ortiz said.