LAFD: Smoke Alarm Saves Two, Woman Perishes in Eagle Rock Home Fire | December 28, 2020
Channel: LAFD
Date: 2020-12-29

The Los Angeles Fire Department was notified at 3:51 AM on December 28, 2020 of a structure fire at 5159 North Vincent Avenue in Eagle Rock, where firefighters arrived quickly to find heavy fire to the rear of a 1,282 square-foot one story home.

Met by a resident who shared that one or more persons were trapped inside the building, firefighters forced entry and commenced an aggressive and well-coordinated offense with handlines on the well involved fire - and during initial fire attack, shepherded another resident to safety from an uninvolved though heat- and smoke-charged section of the home.  

Thirty-nine firefighters under the command of Battalion Chief Brian Petty confined the fire to a portion of the residence, extinguishing flames in just 21 minutes. During their search of the heavily damaged area of the home, firefighters discovered the body of an adult female. Beyond medical help, she was determined to be dead at the scene. 

The elder male and female who had safely escaped the home, were briefly examined by LAFD Paramedics, but declined further medical treatment or hospital transportation. No other injuries were reported.

Though the 96 year-old dwelling was equipped with smoke alarms as required by law, it did not feature optional residential fire sprinklers. 

A positive identification of the dead woman, as well as the cause, time and manner of her death will be determined by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. 

Fire loss to structure is still being tabulated. The cause of the blaze remains the focus of an active LAFD investigation.