Early this morning, a two-story residential triplex in Koreatown was engulfed in flames, leaving one man critically injured. At approximately 3:22 a.m., the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a structure fire at 944 S Dewey Avenue, a vacant and boarded building originally constructed in 1921. It took 37 firefighters just 19 minutes to access, confine, and fully extinguish the blaze, which had consumed the property.
According to information released by the LAFD, a 42-year-old homeless man was dramatically rescued from the inferno. Despite their swift response, the firefighters were unable to prevent the victim from sustaining critical injuries. The rescued individual was quickly transported to an area hospital, where he is currently being treated for second and third-degree burns to more than half of his body and complications resulting from smoke inhalation. The fire's spread was successfully halted, preventing damage to adjacent structures. "One adult male civilian (undetermined age / injuries / site affiliation) was rescued from the flames by LAFD Firefighters and taken to an area hospital in critical condition," a statement issued by the LAFD said.
The patient, who was later identified by authorities, remains in critical condition. The LAFD has reported no other injuries related to this incident. As of now, the exact cause of the fire remains unclear and is under active investigation by the department.
Efforts continue to establish the sequence of events leading up to the fire, with investigators combing the scene for evidence. "The cause of the fire remains under active investigation," the LAFD affirmed in an update following the incident.
