VENICE, Calif. (CNS) — Firefighters have knocked down a greater alarm fire inside a vacant two-story commercial building in Venice -- a blaze that spread from a nearby homeless encampment and temporarily threatened two other buildings, the Los Angeles Fire Department reported.

The blaze at 723 S. Ocean Front Walk was reported at 6:19 a.m., said fire department spokesman Brian Humphrey. Active flames were extinguished 2 hours, 17 minutes later, according to the LAFD.

No injuries were reported.

The building -- heavily damaged and now unstable, the LAFD said -- is a two-story 6,952-square-foot structure.

The flames extended through the roof, and firefighters were forced into a defensive position initially, Humphrey said.