LOCAL : Blind Woman Dies Fleeing Fire

A blind Sepulveda woman died this morning as she tried to flee from a fire that erupted in a bedroom of her apartment, authorities said.

The name of the woman, who investigators believe was in her late 50s, was not released pending notification of her family.

Two security guards at the two-story apartment building in the 15100 block of Parthenia Street pulled the woman out of her unit. Paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene.

The fire was confined to her unit and was extinguished in 18 minutes, fire officials said. The cause of the blaze, which caused an estimated $15,000, is under investigation. Authorities said smoke detectors were operating in the building.

Police investigators said that one bedroom was heavily damaged and that a portion of the living room ceiling had burned.

“It looks like the fire started in one of the bedrooms. There was a lot of heat coming out of the room,” said detective Mike Brandt, who responded to the fire. “Part of a wall was burned and acoustic ceiling had fallen.”

Brandt said there is no evidence of foul play.