Woman Dies, Five Injured in Panorama City House Fire
The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a house fire in the San Fernando Valley Wednesday morning, where one woman died and five others were injured.
The fire was reported at 8:08 AM on October 18, 2023 at 8766 Matilija Avenue in Panorama City. Firefighters arrived quickly to find fire showing from the 1,535 square foot one-story home.
During an aggressive and well-coordinated attack on the flames, firefighters discovered a 90 year old female - described by residents as mobility impaired, lifeless in a rear bedroom. Beyond medical help, she was sadly determined to be dead at the scene.
Thirty-four firefighters under the command of Battalion Chief Scott Hilton extinguished the fire in just 21 minutes, confining flames within the residence.
Five other residents were medically evaluated by LAFD Paramedics at scene for smoke exposure. Three of them, a 30 year-old female, her 1 year-old daughter and a 17 year-old male, were transported in fair condition to area hospitals, while a 26 year-old male and a 15 year-old male declined further treatment or transportation.
No other injuries were reported.
At the time of the fire, there were no functional smoke alarms in the home, as mandated by law. The structure, built in 1949, was not equipped with optional residential fire sprinklers.
A positive identification of the deceased woman, as well as the specific cause, time and manner of her death, will be determined by the County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner.
Monetary loss from the fire is still being tabulated. The fire's cause remains the focus of an active Los Angeles Fire Department investigation.
