$600,000 Blaze Injures Apartment Residents

Apre-dawn fire Saturday raced through a two-story Reseda apartment building, destroying two units and injuring several of the 100 residents who had to be evacuated, authorities said.

Los Angeles fire officials said they were not certain how many residents were hurt in the blaze at 18325 Vanowen St., but they said injuries ranged from minor to moderate. One firefighter was also treated for minor burns to his face and hands.

The fire, which broke out around 5 a.m., was deliberately set, Chief Neil Bullock said. He said an accelerant was also used in starting the fire, but he declined to give further details.

The blaze caused an estimated $600,000 in damage, Bullock said.

Those evacuated were away from their apartments for more than four hours while firefighters battled to keep the flames from spreading. Several occupants had to be relocated to other units in the complex, he said.