Man Killed in Melrose Blaze

A man who may have been homeless died today after being pulled out of a burning vacant commercial building in West Hollywood, authorities said.

The victim was hospitalized at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for smoke inhalation before his death, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. No other injuries were reported, said Supervising Fire Dispatcher Ray Jones.

The two-alarm fire burned in a vacant two-story commercial structure in the 9000 block of West Melrose Avenue, Jones said. It was reported just before midnight and 150 firefighters were sent to the scene, Floor Supervisor Michael Pittman said.

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The blaze was knocked down in about an hour, with county firefighters getting an assist from the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Los Angeles County sheriff’s Deputy Kelvin Moody said homicide detectives were investigating the man’s death.

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City News Service