Two Calif. Firefighters Hurt Battling Apartment Fire

Sept. 21--Two firefighters were hurt while battling a blaze on the second floor of a North Hills apartment building Saturday, where a woman and two teen boys lived, officials said.

The fire was first reported at 1:06 p.m. on the second floor of a garden style apartment building at 8718 Parthenia Place. When firefighters arrived, they could hear fire alarms working and the family who lived there as well as neighbors had time to escape, said Brian Humphrey, spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department.

At least 44 firefighters had the flames contained in 17 minutes, Humphrey said.

But one firefighter suffered first and second degree burns to his hands, forehead and right knee, Humphrey said. He was later listed in good condition. Another suffered smoke inhalation. Neither firefighter suffered any life threatening injuries. Humphrey said.

Five neighbors tried to enter the apartment unit when they thought children might still be inside. But the smoke and heat was overwhelming, Humphrey said. Some were treated for smoke inhalation but all were released at the scene.

A 35-year-old woman and her two boys, age 12 and 14, were displaced by the fire. The American Red Cross was on scene to assist the family, Humphrey said.

The cause of the blaze appeared to be an electrical malfunction in a window air conditioning unit. The fire caused an estimated $90,000 in damages to the structure and its contents, Humphrey added.

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