Hollywood woman, 56, dies in fire
A 56-year-old Hollywood woman was killed Saturday night when she was trapped by flames inside her home after an artificial Christmas tree apparently caught fire, officials said.
The victim was identified as Barbara Boyd Harper. Her husband, 61, and 18-year-old son safely made it out of their duplex in the 1300 block of North Martel Avenue after the fire broke out about 8 p.m. The husband suffered smoke inhalation and was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in fair condition, said Brian Ballton, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department. The son was not injured.
A firefighter, however, suffered a muscle tear in his right arm and was taken to UCLA Medical Center.
Ballton said the combination of electric lights, presents with gift wrapping and a combustible tree can be very dangerous.
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