Man found dead after fire torches Highland Park home
One person was found dead in a large fire which torched a house in Highland Park late Monday night.
The blaze broke out at a home in the 200 block of South Avenue 52 at around 11 p.m. Several teens and young adults who live in the area tried to get inside to rescue the victim, who they knew.
"I had heard some glass breaking, and so I looked to my left and saw something orange," neighbor Briana Leriget said.
Leriget called 911 as her grandparents grabbed their garden hose, and then she tried to break into the burning home.
"I rushed to the back with some people trying to help them break in through the back," Leriget said.
Witness Kylkr Loya, who happened to be driving by with a friend, also stopped and rushed to help.
"Right as we came over the hill, we saw fire coming through the front right window only, and we just immediately tried to see if anyone was inside," Loya said. "There was a radio going on at the time, so it sounded like someone was there. I managed to get the front door open. It just went up so fast."
Los Angeles Fire Department crews arrived on scene to find heavy flames ripping through the house, with the fire also threatening surrounding homes on three sides.
"It was certainly a well-involved fire upon our arrival, very heavy flames coming out of the front of this, exposing the nearby homes," LAFD Capt. Erik Scott said.
It took crews 40 minutes to extinguish the fire. Crews were able to keep the flames from spreading to adjacent homes. However, firefighters found the body of 29-year-old Mark Olmedo inside.
Leriget told CBSLA that Olmedo had lived in the home with his mother for years. She said he had a mental disability and often had a caregiver while his mother worked. She described Olmedo as a soft-spoken man with kind words.
"'How you doing, good morning, good afternoon,' we would have small conversations," Leriget said. "He was so sweet."
The cause is under investigation. Olmedo was also a smoker, so investigators will look into whether that played a role in sparking the blaze. The fire alarm in Olmedo's home did sound. Fire crews said he was not in his bed, but sadly never made it to the front door.
The home was completely charred by the blaze. Leriget said her prayers are with Olmedo's mother.
"I feel so sorry for her, having to come home to find out that your son had passed away in a fire and your own home," Leriget said.
