Fire, possible explosion at Torrance apartment kills one, displaces others

An overnight fire and possible explosion at a Torrance apartment complex killed one person and displaced several others, fire officials said Sunday.

Authorities received a report of a fire and possible explosion in the 22500 block of Ocean Avenue around 2 a.m. Sunday, according to Capt. Robert Millea of the Torrance Fire Department.

Firefighters arrived to find flames shooting out of the two-story apartment complex, and several windows blown out. Nearly three dozen firefighters knocked down the fire in 15 minutes.

Millea said fire officials found a body inside the first-floor unit where the fire appeared to have started. Six apartment units were damaged in the fire.

Arson investigators were called out to the scene because a fatality was involved, Millea said. He said such investigations are automatically triggered and does not necessarily indicate authorities suspect foul play.

For more California news, follow @vicjkim