Though a functional smoke alarm was able to awaken two residents to safely escape their burning home, a woman was later found dead inside the northeast Los Angeles residence, that was heavily involved with fire.

The Los Angeles Fire Department was notified at 3:51 AM on December 28, 2020 of a structure fire at 5159 North Vincent Avenue in Eagle Rock, where firefighters arrived quickly to find heavy fire to the rear of a 1,282 square-foot one story home.

Met by a resident who shared that he was apart from one or more persons who might still be within the burning building, firefighters forced entry and commenced an aggressive and well-coordinated offense with handlines on the well involved fire - and during initial fire attack, shepherded an adult female resident to safety from in or near an uninvolved though heat- and smoke-charged section of the home.  

Thirty-nine firefighters under the command of Battalion Chief Brian Petty prevented flames from extending to nearby homes, confining the fire to the rear portion of the residence, extinguishing flames in just 21 minutes. During their search of the heavily damaged rear section of the home, firefighters discovered the body of an adult female. Beyond medical help, she was determined to be dead at the scene. 

The elder man and woman who safely escaped the home were briefly examined by LAFD Paramedics, but declined medical treatment or hospital transportation.

No other injuries were reported.

Though the 96 year-old dwelling was equipped with smoke alarms as required by law, it did not feature optional residential fire sprinklers. 

A positive identification of the dead woman, as well as the cause, time and manner of her death will be determined by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. 

Fire loss to structure is still being tabulated. Pursuant to protocol for fatality fires, the cause of the blaze remains the focus of an active team investigation by the LAFD Arson/Counterterrorism Section.

Dispatched LAFD Units: E42  E2  E212  T12  E250  T50  BC1  E201  T1  RA55  RA47  E44  E220  T20  RA20  BC2  RA55  AR1  PI3  PH1