Victim Trapped by Window Bars Dies of Burns

A 65-year-old woman who was burned over 90% of her body when she had been trapped in her flaming home by the burglar bars on its windows died of her injuries Friday. Alice Catchings, under treatment at Brotman Medical Center since shortly after the fire last Sunday, died at 7:15 a.m., according to a hospital spokeswoman.

Neighbors tried to reach the woman but could not tear off the iron burglar bars on the windows, which were attached to the walls with steel plates. She was finally dragged out of the blazing house at 2112 S. Curson Ave. by firefighters who made their way to her from the back door.

The early morning fire was accidentally touched off by the victim’s sister when she attempted to burn newspapers in the fireplace, firefighters said.

Catchings was at least the 10th person to die as a result of being trapped behind barred windows since 1980, according to Los Angeles Fire Department figures. Quick-release devices are required on any barred windows in a “sleeping room,” but not on dining room windows, as was the case in this instance.