Five people were injured in a fire at a residential high-rise in the Westlake district of Los Angeles on Monday. The 15-story building, located at 455 S. Union Ave., offers housing for seniors, the disabled, and those who qualify for subsidized housing.
All five of those injured were hospitalized for treatment of smoke inhalation and burns. Three are in critical condition, two are in serious condition.
The fire in the 200-unit residential tower was reported at 8:45 p.m. Flames were initially seen on the building’s fourth floor. As 150 firefighters battled the blaze, some residents were evacuated, some were told to shelter in place. The source of the fire has not yet been determined.
The building had no fire-suppression sprinklers, the fire department told local media. Fire sprinklers cut the risk of dying in a fire by 80 percent, but only 47 percent of high-rise apartment buildings have them, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
Sources:
losangeles.cbslocal.com/2016/10/10/2-critically-burned-in-westlake-senior-care-facility/
http://abc7.com/news/injuries-reported-in-fire-at-westlake-senior-care-facility/1549340/
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-westlake-fire-20161010-snap-story.html