4 Hurt in Arson Blaze at Apartment Building

An arsonist poured gasoline in the hallway of a South-Central Los Angeles apartment building and ignited a blaze early Wednesday that left four people hurt, including a man burned over most of his body, authorities said. The other victims included a 4-year-old girl, her mother and an older woman.

Police Lt. Helen Kidder said investigators were looking into whether the fire may have been set as a result of an ongoing “boyfriend-girlfriend dispute.” The blaze was reported at 5:54 a.m. and raced through several apartments in the building in the 4200 block of South Vermont Avenue, Fire Department Inspector Gary Jenkins said.

Nearly 30 firefighters battled the blaze, dousing flames in 12 minutes. James Populus, 32, was most seriously hurt. He was initially taken to Daniel Freeman Memorial Hospital and suffered second- and third-degree burns over 96% of his body, a hospital spokeswoman said.