LOS ANGELES — Crews battled two large fires in Los Angeles early today, including a massive one downtown that closed portions of two major freeways and blanketed the area in ash and heavy smoke.

More than 250 firefighters fought the downtown blaze that was sparked at a construction site around 1:20 a.m., Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Ralph Terrazas said. Flames consumed the 7-story wood-framed structure and damaged three floors of an adjacent high-rise before being brought under control within 90 minutes. Portions of U.S. Route 101 and Interstate 110 were shut down for a time.