COMPTON, California – A huge fire visible across Los Angeles burned stacks of pallets in a commercial yard and buses parked in a neighboring lot early Friday.<br />The inferno erupted in Compton before dawn and created a massive column of smoke that rose high into the sky and spread widely across the metropolitan area.<br />One firefighter had a minor ankle injury but there were no civilian injuries, said Compton Fire Department Battalion Chief Jim McCombs.<br />The fire also involved a mattress business but it didn't appear that mattresses burned, he said.<br />McCombs said the fire may have begun in an alley. The cause was under investigation but it did not appear to be suspicious, he said.<br /><br />The fire was reported around 4:45 am and more than 100 firefighters and 26 fire engines from multiple agencies responded.<br />About three hours later the fire was contained but was not extinguished, McCombs said.
