Man Killed, Stepdaughter Badly Burned in Fire
An apartment fire apparently caused by smoking materials killed a 45-year-old man and severely injured his stepdaughter Monday.
Firefighters found Ivan Garcia dead and his 20-year-old stepdaughter badly burned, said Monterey Park Fire Battalion Chief Tim Murphy. The blaze was reported about 11:25 a.m. in the 500 block of South Alhambra Avenue.
The mother of the young woman apparently left the burning apartment before the fire engulfed the exits, Murphy said. She was trying in vain to go back inside when firefighters arrived.
The 20-year-old woman, who has a mental disability, and Garcia were caught in a back bedroom, Murphy said. The young woman was taken to Colton’s Arrowhead Medical Center.
A cigarette or other type of smoking materials apparently started the fire in the kitchen, Murphy said.
“It seemed to have proceeded from there so rapidly that they couldn’t get out,” Murphy said. “They were blocked by the smoke and flames.”
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