Man, Woman Hospitalized After Fire Erupts In South LA Apartment Building
SOUTH LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A woman was fighting for her life Tuesday after being rescued from a fire that erupted in her South Los Angeles apartment building.
According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, the blaze broke out shortly after 9 p.m. Monday in the 1500 block of East 54th Street, located in the Central-Alameda neighborhood.
Upon their arrival, firefighters located heavy flames and black smoke showing from the two-story, Pueblo del Rio public housing project.
A man who was attempting to battle the flames with a garden hose nearby reported a woman was trapped inside the residence.
Firefighters then entered the building, which had zero visibility conditions due to thick smoke.
The pulseless and non-breathing woman was located on the second floor of the residence.
Paramedics began resuscitation on the woman while transporting her to an area hospital. They were able to restore her heartbeat and assist her with labored breathing. Hospital officials said the victim remains unconscious and is listed in grave condition.
The man was also transported to a hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation. He remains listed in serious but stable condition.
Thirty-two firefighters extinguished the blaze within 16 minutes.
No other injuries were reported.
According to firefighters, the 75-year-old building was equipped with functional smoke alarms, but it did not have optional residential fire sprinklers.
An estimate of damage is still being tabulated.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
