A man died Wednesday in a fire at a one-story duplex in Mission Hills that fire officials said didn’t have smoke alarms, which is against the law.
Firefighters responded at 3:02 a.m. to 10803 N. Noble Ave. and Chatsworth Street, near the Ronald Reagan (118) Freeway, they encountered intense flames at the 1,856-square-foot residence that had been converted into a duplex, said Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey.
During a search of the building, firefighters found the victim, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
Fox 11 reported the victim had escaped from the burning building, but rushed back in to retrieve something and was unable to escape the flames a second time.
Humphrey said the 72-year-old residence was not equipped with smoke alarms, as required by law.
It took 32 firefighters 22 minutes to put out the flames.
Three occupants of the home were not injured in the fire.