A raging fire tore through the building housing the Basque Nightclub & Restaurant located at the storied corner of Hollywood and Vine. The building, which dates back to the 1920s, also housed a tattoo parlor, a beauty supply company and a vacant shoe store.

A stunning twenty-six engine companies, six rescue units and 180 firefighters have knocked down the blaze by 8 a.m., Battalion Chief Mario Rueda told the press in front of the destroyed building. The fire started sometime just before 5:30 a.m. The firefighters were ordered to get out of the building after it was clear that a massive billboard and air conditioning units on the nightclub roof were to come down any time.

There is some concern about the rising number of blazes in the area. Arson investigators were on scene but they couldn't enter the building so far. Other older buildings in the area have been hit by fires in the last two years, which has raised serious questions about the exact causes. "They are probably unrelated but the fact that we're seeing five fires in a 10-block square radius bears some investigation," said Councilman Eric Garcetti to Fox.

Basque features burlesque dancers, corseted waitresses, aphrodisiac-infused menu options, glass ceilings and other elements which are intended to sex up the atmosphere. This is the place where trainwreck Lindsay Lohan celebrated her 21st birthday and where Kanye West partied just nine days ago.