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Man in his 90s dies in L.A. house fire; no smoke alarms found

Firefighters put out hot spots at a home in the 1500 block of West 36th Place.
(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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A fire tore through an Exposition Park home Tuesday, injuring one firefighter and killing the homeowner, Los Angeles fire officials said.

The blaze began about 10:43 a.m. in a single-story home in the 1500 block of West 36th Place, said fire department spokesman Bryan Humphrey. As crews entered the home to battle the blaze, one firefighter burned his leg.

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FOR THE RECORD
July 29, 1:24 p.m.: An earlier version of this post said it was the 15th fire fatality in Los Angeles this year. It was the 16th.
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Firefighters who fought their way to the front of the home from the rear found an unconscious person on the floor. LAFD Capt. Jamie Moore said the person who died appeared to be the homeowner, who was in his 90s.

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Though neighbors told firefighters the man did not have mobility issues, Moore said the man’s age, pack rat conditions and the lack of a smoke alarms made for a perilous combination.

The last fire fatality in Los Angeles was 35 days ago in Mission Hills, Humphrey said.

Tuesday’s death marks the 16th fire fatality in Los Angeles this year. The city had 22 fire deaths in 2013.

For breaking California news, follow @JosephSerna.

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