Elderly Woman Injured After Fire Heavily Damages Boarding Home

An elderly woman was seriously injured Saturday when fire heavily damaged a West Hollywood boarding home, authorities said.

Five Los Angeles County Fire Department engine companies responded to the blaze at 1212 N. Detroit St. Firefighters extinguished the flames in 25 minutes, Battalion Chief Berl Dahlstrom said.

The woman, who was believed to be in her 90s, suffered second- and third-degree burns over 50% of her body, paramedics said.

She was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and then transferred to the burn center at San Bernardino County Medical Center, where she was in critical condition.

Her name was not released pending notification of relatives.

The cause of the fire was under investigation, but Dahlstrom said the blaze erupted about 4:15 p.m., when the woman either attempted to start a fire or burn garbage in the fireplace.

The fire quickly got out of hand and spread through the front rooms of the two-story home.

Craig White, a boarder, was asleep in his room in the back of the house when the fire started.

“I heard the lady yelling, ‘Fire! Fire!’ ” he said. “I went to try and get her, but there was just too much smoke. I couldn’t get in.”

White escaped through a window and was unhurt. Another man also escaped unharmed.

White said he and at least four others rent rooms from the injured woman, who owns the house.

Dahlstrom said 60% of the lower floor was burned, while the upper floor sustained heavy smoke and water damage.

Damage was estimated at $100,000.