‘Suspicious’ fire burns person in South LA, damages house

A “suspicious” fire damaged a house in the South Los Angeles area Tuesday and left a person badly burned, authorities said.

Firefighters sent to the 100 block of East 59th Place at 9:19 a.m. extinguished the flames in 19 minutes, according to Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

The 766-square-foot, one-story home at the rear of the property was fully engulfed and firefighters assumed a defensive posture, pouring water on the fire from the exterior and preventing the flames from spreading to nearby structures, Humphrey said.

“One male civilian … was found outside the home with (a) significant burn injury,” Humphrey said.

Paramedics treated him at the scene prior to taking him to a hospital. No other injuries were reported.

“The fire is considered suspicious, and the burned male will be interviewed by law enforcement … to determine his relationship if any, to the cause of the fire,” Humphrey said.

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