Woman, 72, Dies in House Fire
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VAN NUYS — A woman who police say was smoking in bed died Saturday when her one-story home was devoured by flames and a smoke detector without batteries could not warn her of the danger.
The 72-year-old woman, whose name was not released, was found about 4:15 p.m., when 20 Los Angeles City firefighters fought back the flames in the 6000 block of Sunnyslope Avenue, said department spokesman Brian Humphrey.
Humphrey said a smoke detector found in the 1,300-square-foot home was missing batteries.
Initial reports from arson investigators indicated that the fire was most likely an accidental blaze caused by the victim’s cigarette, said Sgt. George Wright, of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Van Nuys Division.
The fire cause an estimated $69,000 in property damage.
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