Father Charged in Fire That Injured Children

A Sun Valley man who allegedly left his young daughter and stepson alone in a parked car that burst into flames was charged Friday with child endangerment, the city attorney’s office said.

Manuel Banda, 27, was charged with two misdemeanor counts of child endangering, each carrying a sentence of up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Banda’s 16-month-old daughter, Alejandrina, and 3 1/2-year-old stepson, Christian Ramirez, were hospitalized with burns and smoke inhalation after the May 15 incident, police and city prosecutors said. They have since been released from the hospital.

The incident that led to the charges began to unfold about 8 p.m., when Banda pulled his car into a parking lot at Tresierras Market, 11350 Saticoy St., authorities said.

Banda allegedly left the children in the car unattended when he went into the market to buy a money order. While he was inside the store, an electrical problem caused his car to burst into flames, Deputy City Atty. Laura Van Eyk said.

An employee collecting shopping carts in the parking lot spotted the flames and ran back into the store to alert shoppers. Banda, aided by a market employee, pulled the children from the smoke-filled car, Van Eyk said.

Firefighters airlifted the children to Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, where they were treated for minor facial burns and severe smoke inhalation, she said.

City fire investigators said the blaze apparently started under the car’s dashboard.

Behind the radio and air-conditioner controls, investigators found charred electrical wiring. The wires apparently had been cut and left in place after an unknown piece of equipment was removed, authorities said.

Banda is scheduled to be arraigned Aug. 2 in Van Nuys Municipal Court.