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3 Injured In Fire At Van Nuys Motel

VAN NUYS (CBSLA.com) —  Officials said three people were injured Saturday in a motel fire in Van Nuys.

The injuries were non-life threatening, said authorities.

The fire was reported in a two-story motel located at 6500 Sepulveda Boulevard just before 11:15 a.m.

Reporting for CBS2, Greg Mills said officials believe the fire broke out on the second floor of the Voyager Motor Inn.

Paramedics rushed the three injured people to an area hospital, said Erik Scott of the Los Angeles City Fire Department.

"I almost lost my daughter," said Ross Russo. His daughter was overcome by smoke and had to be rescued by ladder.

"Smoke was everywhere," said Russo, "Flames almost engulfed me."

His daughter, feeling trapped, contemplated jumping.

It was also a scary situation for guest Lynette Boger.

She told Mills, "I woke up to smoke under my door. I panicked. I expected to die in there."

At least 50 firefighters were dispatched to the O-shaped structure, Scott said. The fire was knocked down by 12:29 p.m.

Scott said half of the motel's 120 rooms were occupied at the time of the fire.

Arson investigators were on scene to determine a cause of the blaze.

(©2013 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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