Woman Killed, Man Hospitalized After Fire at Home

The body of a woman was found Tuesday in a South Los Angeles home that was gutted in a midmorning blaze, city fire officials said.

A 69-year-old man who authorities believe is the dead woman’s husband suffered smoke inhalation and was taken to California Hospital Medical Center, where he was listed in critical condition.

The doors of the couple’s unit in the 300 block of West 51st Street were illegally equipped with double-cylinder security deadbolts that can only be opened with keys, said Brian Humphrey, spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department.

The woman’s body was found “just inside the front door,” Humphrey said. “The deadbolt definitely had a key in it.”

According to witnesses, the man was in a bedroom when his wife began to yell that the house was on fire. Firefighters received a call about 9:30 a.m. and had the fire in 30 minutes, officials said.

“Witnesses say they saw some people actually rip off the back door from the door frame,” Humphrey said. “They were able to rescue the 69-year-old male.”