Body Found in Blaze at Valley Home

A 38-year-old man was found dead early Tuesday as firefighters battled a fire in a Canoga Park home that apparently did not have a working smoke alarm, authorities said.

Thirty firefighters from six stations were sent at 1:21 a.m. to a house in the 22000 block of Leadwell Street and doused the flames in about 20 minutes, said Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles City Fire Department. Two firefighters suffered minor injuries, but returned to duty to help extinguish the blaze.

“There was no evidence of a functional smoke alarm within the home,” said Humphrey, adding that fire crews found the body while fighting the fire. “Sadly, he was beyond our help.”

The man, whose name was not released pending notification of his family, was thought to be a resident of the house, Humphrey said. The coroner will conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

Investigators were trying to determine what started the fire and what role, if any, alcohol played in the incident, Humphrey said.

“There was a question if there was some alcohol use at the home that night,” he said. “Four other males who live at the home and in a detached garage escaped the fire.”