Man Burned by Fire in Home Packed With Papers

Firefighters made the discovery early Tuesday while rescuing Milton Pope from a fire that damaged the old wood-frame house in South-Central Los Angeles where he has lived since 1911.

Pope, 92, who suffered second- and third-degree burns over 50% of his body and was taken to County-USC Medical Center’s burn unit, had been taken living in “pack-rat conditions,” authorities said.

Piles of old newspapers, books and memorabilia were stacked floor to ceiling, making for narrow pathways inside the cramped two-bedroom house at 79th Street and Broadway. Outside, the structure was partially obscured by dry, chest-high weeds.

“It was highly combustible,” said Battalion Chief Don Austin, who arrived at the scene after the fire was out. Investigators sifting through the rubble soon discovered that “some of these things are quite valuable,” he added.

There was a diary from 1888, a family Bible from 1893 and an early model Singer sewing machine. There were old tools that once served a small auto repair business.

“Look at the fashions,” one ash-covered firefighter said, pointing to a women’s clothing ad in a soaked Nov. 2, 1950, edition of the Los Angeles Daily News.

Although the cause of the fire was under investigation, officials said it may have been ignited by a faulty electric hot plate in the kitchen, where most of the damage occurred. Quick response saved Pope’s life and prevented the fire from spreading, Austin said. Neighbors said Pope was a recluse, a man who rarely invited visitors into his house, even when they brought him food.

From the fire, they learned more than they had ever known about the man. He read the Wall Street Journal and kept notebooks tracking soybean futures.

“He was friendly, he would say thanks, but he would never invite anyone in,” said Lavell Hegwood, 38.

Pope’s dog survived the fire unharmed.

“After we put out the fire, the dog tried to return to a favorite little spot in the house,” Austin said. “‘We called animal control officers to have the dog picked up.” Officials were trying to contact family members.

A representative from Councilwoman Rita Walters’ office was called to the house to see what could be done to get it boarded up.

“There is a lot of history in there,” said Woody Fleming, Walter’s field deputy, putting in the call to have the city board up the house. “If we don’t do something to board it up, who knows what will be left.”