A Mission Hills home erupted in flames in the early morning hours Wednesday, claiming the life of one man and sending residents into the cold street. Los Angeles Fire Department officials reported that the blaze began around 3:00 a.m. at a duplex located at 10803 Noble Avenue.
Despite a rapid response by 32 firefighters who managed to quickly extinguish the fire in approximately 22 minutes, a fatal decision to re-enter the house proved deadly for a man who initially escaped. According to a statement from the LAFD, the victim was one of four residents who had safely exited the building before attempting to go back inside to retrieve personal belongings.
The residence, a 72-year-old structure, was found to have no working smoke alarms as mandated by law, potentially contributing to the tragedy. Firefighters discovered the remains of the adult male once the fire, which ravaged the 1,856 square-foot home, was subdued. No other injuries were reported from the incident.
The identity of the deceased has yet to be released pending a formal identification by the County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner, who will also determine the specific cause, time, and manner of death. Meanwhile, authorities continue to thoroughly investigate to pin down the cause of the deadly incident.
LAFD Public Information Officer Firefighter David Ortiz communicated that the department is aiding with media inquiries, as indicated in an LAFD alert. Further details are expected as the fire's investigation progresses.
