The injured people included three firefighters — two with leg burns and one with an ear burn, Los Angeles Fire spokesman Brian Humphrey said. The other injuries involved smoke exposure.
The young girl was found in a stairwell on the 23rd floor by firefighters who performed CPR on her before transporting her to the hospital, said Los Angeles Fire Capt. Jaime Moore. Humphrey said she suffered significant smoke inhalation and she was being treated as critical as an extra precaution.
None of the other injuries were life threatening, Humphrey said.
The blaze was reported at 11:43 a.m. in a two-bedroom unit on the 11th floor of 25-story Barrington Plaza on Wilshire Boulevard. The tower has about 700 people living in nearly 400 rental units.
Large flames could be seen on the side of the high-rise during the height of the blaze.
Humphrey said the building, constructed in 1961, was not equipped with sprinklers because the devices weren't required for buildings of that era.
A cursory look at inspection records showed the building was up to code, he said, noting the fire department would be taking a closer look at the records in the coming days.
Heavy smoke poured from the building as more than 200 firefighters responded and scores of residents evacuated.
Most residents weren't home during the mid-day fire. Humphrey said some residents on upper floors didn't evacuate.
The complex includes several buildings but only one was involved in the fire, he said.
The blaze was declared out in 71 minutes but firefighters continued to search door to door. The fire was largely contained to the single unit, though there was smoke and water damage to neighboring units, Humphrey said.
Two investigators were examining the unit to determine the fire's origin and cause. It's unclear where the unit's occupant was when the fire broke out, Humphrey said.
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