Elderly Woman, Cat Killed In Pasadena Apartment Fire
PASADENA (CBS) — Authorities say a 75-year-old woman was killed Wednesday in a fire at a Pasadena apartment complex.
The fire broke out at a two-story apartment complex in the 300 block of West California Boulevard at about 2 a.m., Pasadena Fire Department spokeswoman Lisa Derderian said.
Firefighters arrived at the scene five minutes after the fire was reported to find the woman in full cardiac arrest, she said, and they were unable to revive her.
The fire was contained to the room and its contents, so firefighters were able to put it out within 10 minutes.
The victim was alone in the apartment with her cat, which firefighters resuscitated, using special equipment designed for pets. But the animal, which had been in critical condition after being picked up by the humane society, later died, she said.
Fire investigators are looking into what caused the blaze.
The unit was not equipped with smoke detectors, but there were smoke detectors in the hallway, which alerted the woman's neighbors to the fire, Derderian said.
Residents of the surrounding unit were temporarily displaced, but were allowed to return to their apartments this morning.
(©2012 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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.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.)
