Fire Destroys 100-Year-Old Residence, Eight Displaced

Los Angeles firefighters on Wednesday extinguished a stubborn fire that destroyed a two-story wood frame house in Highland Park, injured a firefighter and a resident, and displaced eight people, authorities said.

The blaze inside the home at 128 S. Avenue 54 was reported at 4:26 a.m., said Margaret Stewart of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

The integrity of the second floor was compromised by the flames, which were showing when firefighters arrived, prompting them to assume a defensive stance and battle the blaze from the exterior, Stewart said.

A man of about 65 was taken to a hospital in fair condition, she said, adding the nature of his injuries was not immediately clear. Additionally, a firefighter suffered a slight ankle injury and is in good condition.

The department dispatched 55 firefighters to the scene and declared a knockdown after 2 hours 20 minutes, Stewart said. The bulk of flames were out by 6 a.m. but firefighters stayed back to work on hot spots.

The fire destroyed the 100-year-old home and all its contents. Seven adults and one juvenile were displaced.

Fire department arson investigators were sent to the scene, and the cause of the fire was under investigation.

-City News Service