68-year-old woman found dead in Boyle Heights apartment fire

LOS ANGELES - An early morning fire that broke out at an apartment complex in Boyle Heights has turned deadly, the Los Angeles Fire Department said.

Firefighters were called to the 500 block of South Clarence Street, located near the 101 Freeway and East 4th Street just after 4 a.m.

Arriving firefighters discovered a two-story, garden-style apartment building with billowing smoke. Firefighters went into an offensive, interior fire attack and took the roof to allow for vertical ventilation, said LAFD Spokeswoman Margaret Stewart. 

LAFD officials said 44 firefighters knocked down the flames in 21 minutes and prevented the fire from spreading to nearby buildings.

Initial reports said all of the residents were safely evacuated from the building. However, while conducting a search through the apartments, firefighters found the 68-year-old victim who was declared dead at the scene. The name of the victim has not been released.

The Los Angeles Mayor’s Crisis Response Team and the Red Cross were proving assistance to the victim’s family. 

Arson investigators are at the scene and no further information was immediately available.