A fast-moving fire in a southwest San Fernando Valley condominium claimed the life of a woman Saturday night, and sent a male relative to the hospital with serious burn injuries.

The Los Angeles Fire Department was summoned at 9:34 PM on April 25, 2015 to 21650 Burbank Boulevard in Woodland Hills, where firefighters arrived quickly to discover a four-story 157,000 square-foot condomium complex with fire in one centrally located second floor unit.

As firefighters extended hoselines through hallways to battle flame, they encountered and rescued an adult male resident from the burning unit, who had sustained severe burn injury and smoke exposure. He was taken by LAFD ambulance to an area hospital in serious condition. 

Forty-nine firefighters under the command of Battalion Chief Glenn Miyagishima continued their relentless attack on the fire, confining it to the residence of origin and extinguishing the flames in just 24 minutes. During the final phase of fire attack, firefighters discovered the body of an adult female resident. Beyond medical assistance, she was declared dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported.  

Due to severe fire damage, the presence of smoke alarms and their functional status at the time of the fire could not be immediately determined. The 34 year-old condominium unit was not equipped with optional 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 Coroner. 

Caring neighbors offered temporary accommodations to the handful of residents displaced by fire damage, until necessary repairs are made.

Monetary loss from the fire was estimated at $500,000 ($400,000 structure & $100,000 contents), with LAFD responders preventing more than $10 million in property damage by quickly curtailing the blaze, leaving more than 90 connected condominium units unharmed.

Though the fire and death remain under active investigation, LAFD Investigators have formally declared the blaze to be accidental in nature. 

Dispatched Units: E84 RA84 E305 T105 E72 RA72 E293 E93 T93 EM17 BC17 BC15 E100 E105 RA93 RA873 AR2 AR10 AR22 RA72