3 Elderly People Killed, 1 Hurt in 3 Separate Southland Fires

Three elderly people were killed and one was critically injured early Sunday in separate fires in Reseda, Pacoima and Temple City, firefighters reported.

High winds that swept Southern California were blamed for contributing to the damage in at least one blaze.

The fire on Larkdale Road in Temple City left 76-year-old Gustav Jones dead and his wife, Blanche, 75, in critical condition with severe burns and smoke inhalation, officials said.

The blaze began after the husband fell asleep in a chair while smoking, said Benita Hinojos, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman. Blanche Jones was awakened by a smoke detector and was able to call firefighters before she collapsed at the front door.

About the same time, a house fire in Pacoima killed an 80-year-old woman. Los Angeles City Fire Department spokesman Jim Wells said winds of 35 m.p.h. and gusts up to 45 m.p.h. impeded efforts to put out the fire on Daventry Street.

More than $50,000 damage was done in the 12:30 a.m. fire, which began in the garage of the single-family home, Wells said.

Firefighters put out the blaze in about 25 minutes and found the woman, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

At 5:30 a.m., a fire on Cantlay Street in Reseda killed a 70-year-old man, Wells said, and did about $14,000 damage to the home.

The cause of that blaze was under investigation.

A county coroner’s spokesman said the two San Fernando Valley victims would not be immediately identified, pending notification of relatives.