A fierce blaze in Pacoima claimed the life of a woman and left another with critical injuries. The Los Angeles Fire Department reported the incident that occurred late on March 27 at a property on West Gager Street where firefighters discovered heavy flames coming from a converted garage. The structure fire, which was later contained by 32 firefighters in under 20 minutes, resulted in one fatality and a 39-year-old female being hospitalized with severe burn injuries, according to LAFD alerts.
Arriving at the scene to the gleaming flames, firefighter-paramedics executed a rescue operation on encountering a 39-year-old female with special needs, who was later taken to the hospital in critical condition. The fire, which was initially reported at 10:27 PM, left firefighters to battle it from the ground only due to its intensity, the LAFD said. Tragically, while fighting the fire, they discovered another victim, an approximately 60-year-old female, deceased inside the garage.
The response was quick, with firefighters engaging in an aggressive attack on the fire which was confined to the converted garage, ensuring no other structures were harmed in the process. "Flames were already shooting out through the roof, causing crews to fight the fire from the ground only," stated a report released by the Los Angeles Fire Department about the containment of the fire. As per a LAFD's knockdown announcement, it took 32 firefighter 20 minutes to access, confine, and extinguish the flames.
The ensuing investigation by the LAFD's Arson/Counter Terrorism section seeks to unravel the cause of the fire. The gutted structure, which was a garage converted into a living space, did not seem to possess functional smoke alarms, a legal requisite for living spaces, and lacked optional residential fire sprinklers. "Fire Investigators from LAFD's Arson/Counter Terrorism section responded to attempt to determine a cause," the LAFD news release disclosed. The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner is expected to release further details on the fatality.
The identities of both the burn victim and the deceased have not been publicly disclosed during the active investigation. Battling challenging conditions, the firefighters' quick response helped prevent a potential spread to neighboring homes, showcasing a valiant effort against the devastating circumstances arising from the blaze.
