LOS ANGELES — An early morning apartment fire on the seventh floor of a 12-story high-rise in downtown Los Angeles killed one person, the Los Angeles Fire Department said.
Firefighters arrived and saw smoke coming from a corner apartment. Once inside, they encountered what the department called “excessive storage” that hindered access to the seat of the fire and overhaul operations.
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Assistant Chief Paul Pham said more than 100 firefighters responded to the fire and the knockdown was done in just under an hour. No firefighters were injured.
One person was found inside the unit and pronounced dead at the scene. Fire crews also rescued a cat near the affected apartment, provided supportive care, and transferred it to Los Angeles Animal Services.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.