A man suspected of domestic violence barricaded himself inside a Hermosa Beach home whose garage caught fire Sunday during the standoff with police.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department was summoned at about 3:30 p.m. Sunday to the 600 block of 11th Street, Firefighter Christian Reynoso told City News Service. Firefighters proceeded with caution due to reports that the man inside the home was armed, Reynoso said.
The fire started in the garage but spread into the single-family home and the call was upgraded to a full structure fire response at 4:50 p.m., he said.
Due to the report that a possibly armed suspect was barricaded inside, firefighters took up defensive positions outside the home to protect nearby residences, Reynoso said.
As of 11 p.m., the house was still smoldering, he said.
Officers from the Hermosa Beach Police Department were working to determine if the suspect was still inside and whether anyone else was inside with him, Reynoso said.
Some people and one dog did get out of the home safely, authorities said.