Cigarette Blamed for Fire That Kills Sunland Man

A 32-year-old Sunland man died Saturday after a fire at his house in the 8900 block of Hillrose Street.

Authorities said Mark Powell apparently died from smoke inhalation.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze in the living room of the house at 7:09 a.m., just 11 minutes after the alarm came in, Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Larry Ford said.

But arson investigators at the scene estimated that the fire had been smoldering four to five hours. It was apparently ignited by a cigarette on a couch, investigators said.

Powell, who was alone in the house, was pulled from his bedroom by firefighters and taken to Lake View Medical Center in Lake View Terrace, authorities said. He died in the hospital.