1 Man Dead, 5 Others Injured, Including Firefighter, After Fire Breaks Out in Echo Park Home in Los Angeles, California

Posted 8:42 AM, July 4, 2015, by Ashley Soley-Cerro, Updated at 01:00pm, July 4, 2015

One man died, two were hospitalized in critical condition and three other people were injured, including a firefighter, in a fire at an Echo Park home the morning of the Fourth of July holiday, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Flames are seen coming from a home in Echo Park on July 4, 2015. One man died and five others, including a firefighter, were injured. (Credit: KTLA)

A one-story, “old-style” home was “fully involved in flames” in the 800 block of North Alvarado Street (map) around 8:20 a.m., according to LAFD Capt. Daniel Curry. The department initially tweeted the incorrect address, which was near the actual location.

A 911 caller reported there may be victims trapped inside.

“Unfortunately during the search and rescue we did find one deceased patient that is still in the house,” Curry said. “We also transported two additional individuals with critical burns and we have two additional burn injuries with minor burns. They are not being transported.”

The individual who died and two critically injured patients were only identified as men.

The man who died and four civilians who were injured were believed to be the only people in the home during the fire, Curry said.

Officials offered few details about the injured firefighter, but video showed an apparently injured firefighter sitting outside the home as comrades gave him water and put ice on his back.

“This was a very strenuous fire to fight. We wear a lot of protective gear, it makes you hot. It taxes you easier than just wearing normal clothes and he’s being evaluated further,” Curry said.

Although some reports indicated a nearby hotel had been evacuated, Curry said it was not.

“The hotel was an exposure to the north side of this building. They were sheltered in place,” Curry said. “Obviously the people did come out and take a look, but they were never evacuated.”

Onlookers watch as firefighters battle a blaze that killed one man and injured five others, including a firefighter, in Echo Park on July 4, 2015. (Credit: KTLA)

Video showed several onlookers wearing protective surgical masks watching the firefighters battle the blaze.

About 62 firefighters worked about 36 minutes to extinguish the blaze, Curry said.

Although landscaping outside the home appeared to be overgrown, according to Curry, it was not believed to be a factor in the fire.

The cause was under investigation.

The home was about 2 blocks from Echo Park Lake, which can attract dozens of families on busy holiday weekends.