LOS ANGELES, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- A poorly placed space heater was blamed for a fire that killed a child in Los Angeles Tuesday and seriously injured his parents.
The fire broke out around dawn and had engulfed the home in the Encino area by the time the first engine company pulled up to the scene.
Fire Capt. Carlos Avillo told KTLA-TV, Los Angeles, at the scene that firefighters found the 7-year-old victim's parents in the front yard suffering from serious smoke inhalation. A 10-year-old girl escaped unharmed.
Avillo said it appeared a space heater had been placed too close to a sofa and caused it to ignite. It was also unclear if the smoke detectors were functioning.
Avillo and his troops had to use a heavy-duty water cannon to knock down the intense flames as they searched for the boy, who was found dead in the kitchen.
