Mother, Son Killed In Altadena House Fire

ALTADENA (CBSLA.com) — Authorities continued their investigation Sunday into a house fire that killed an 86-year-old woman, and her 50-year-old son.

According to the Los Angeles County Fire Department, firefighters explained they were sent around 10:17 p.m. Saturday to a single-family home located in the 2400 block of North Holliston Avenue near Altadena Drive.

When they arrived, crews found the home fully engulfed in flames.

KCAL9's Louisa Hodge spoke with Phillipe Marin -- a caretaker who lived inside the home -- who explained he sat outside when he heard an explosion inside the home last night.

Marin went on to say two people escaped the flames with injuries, but Betty Kopp and her son Robert died in the fire.

A preliminary investigation revealed Robert, who was wheelchair bound, was caring for his bedridden mother at the home.

Betty used oxygen tanks and was a smoker, police explained.

Investigators believe Robert brought Betty a cigarette right before the explosion occurred.

Robert was located outside the front door, and Betty was found inside the home. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.

Firefighters added they are working to determine where the fire originated.

The Los Angeles County Coroner's Officer has not confirmed the identities of the victims killed in the fire.

The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.