Body Found in Apartment After Fire in Complex

A disgruntled tenant may have set fire to his former apartment complex Monday and died in the early morning blaze amid plastic bottles containing gasoline, authorities said.

No one else was injured in the fire but at least 100 residents of the 47-unit building were forced to seek shelter Monday night at the homes of family and friends and at a temporary Red Cross shelter in the North Hollywood High School gymnasium.

The body found inside had been burned so badly it could not be identified, according to investigators, who said they found numerous soda bottles and plastic containers of gasoline inside the complex.

“These people are very, very lucky,” Los Angeles Battalion Chief Roger Gillis said. “[The arsonist’s] intent was to burn this building down, not just the one apartment. There are signs of gas everywhere.”

Had the gasoline ignited in the hallway inside the four-story building, he said, people could have been trapped in their apartments.

“This fire had tremendous potential, as much as I’ve seen in a long time,” said Gillis, praising the 100 firefighters who despite heavy smoke doused flames in 29 minutes.

Residents, many still in their pajamas and robes Monday afternoon, may have to wait a day or two before county health workers allow them to return to the complex at 12411 Magnolia Blvd.

Firefighters, who did not have an immediate cost estimate on the damage, said carpets on the second and third floors were soaked in gasoline and the flammable liquid was also in the garage.

The fire was contained to a second-floor studio apartment, where authorities found the body on the couch. Authorities said they believe the body could be that of a tenant who had recently been evicted, possibly the arsonist. “I’ve learned not to make assumptions,” Gillis said. “The body could be a murder victim . . . you just don’t know.”

The investigation, involving Los Angeles firefighters and police as well as the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms, is continuing and may not be completed for another 72 hours.

The Los Angeles County coroner’s office will need to use dental records to identify the body, authorities said. The process could take a few days.

Many residents in the building said they knew of the man, but didn’t know him personally.

“He was a loner,” said Jeff Herskowitz, 32, a special education teacher who has lived in the building about five years.

Herskowitz said he returned from a Las Vegas vacation about 7 a.m. Monday to find his apartment complex blocked off with yellow police tape.

“I was looking forward to a nice shower, relaxing,” said Herskowitz, lying on the lawn next door with his suitcase. “At least I overpacked.”

Schneise Deal, 23, who had recently moved to Los Angeles from St. Louis, said she did not hear the fire alarm. She said if it were not for her Chihuahua, who barked and licked her face, she could have slept through the alarm.

“He saved my life,” she said.

Monday afternoon, Betty Belinsky, 80, waited as her daughter, escorted by fire and police officials, fetched her medication for high blood pressure and diabetes. When she heard the alarm, she rushed out, not thinking about her medication.

“Who knew?” she said. “Who knew that a crazy man was throwing gasoline all over the place.”