Suspicious Structure Fire Proves Fatal
WESTCHESTER - One man was found dead in Westchester Wednesday morning, when firefighters entered a vacant boarded-up residential structure on fire.
The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a 9-1-1 call at 5:45 AM on June 4, 2019 to 9027 S Ramsgate Ave in Westchester, where firefighters arrived quickly to find light smoke showing from a vacant, boarded-up 3,542 square-foot two-story residential four-plex.
Twenty-six firefighters under the command of Battalion Chief Kenneth Miller made access to the interior of the burning structure, extinguishing flames in 34 minutes. During fire attack, firefighters discovered a lifeless 30 year-old male downstairs in the front of one unit, and swiftly carried him from the hot, smoke-charged dwelling.
Upon a detailed outdoor assessment by LAFD Paramedics, the man was found to be deceased and was beyond medical assistance.
The nature of the presence of the occupant and origin of the fire is currently unknown. LAPD and LAFD Arson/Counter Terrorism Unit investigators are combing through the debris, examining burn patterns, and interviewing witnesses to shed light on the details.
A positive identification of the dead man, as well as the cause, time and manner of his death will be determined by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.
Monetary loss from the fire is still being tabulated. The cause of the fire remains under active investigation.
