1 Dead, 1 Injured In Hawthorne House Fire
HAWTHORNE (CBSLA.com) — A 79-year-old man was killed Tuesday morning in a South Bay house fire, officials said.
The fire broke out at 6:15 a.m. in the 13400 block of Cerise Avenue in Hawthorne, the Los Angeles County Fire Department said.
The unidentified elderly man was wheelchair bound and found dead in his bed, according to officials.
His 78-year-old sister, who was also inside the home, collapsed in the kitchen and was transported to a local hospital in critical condition.
Four dogs were also killed in the fire.
"Fire techs said they did not hear any smoke detectors or anything like that when they went into the house and that they did hear screaming," Quvondo Johnson, a Los Angeles County Fire Inspector, said.
Neighbors said the home was recently rented, but was in bad condition.
"It's a cute little house, but it needs some whole lotta work done to it," Starlita McClinton, who had recently toured the home, said.
Fire officials did not say what sparked the blaze, which under investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
Foul play is not believed to be involved.
