Man killed, woman critically injured after fire tears through Pico Rivera strip mall

PICO RIVERA, Calif. - A man was killed and a woman was hospitalized with severe burns after a fire ripped through a single-story strip mall in Pico Rivera Wednesday night. 

Firefighters with the Los Angeles County Fire Department were called to the 9300 block of E. Whitter Boulevard at about 8 p.m. 

(FOX 11)

Sky FOX showed heavy smoke that engulfed the area shortly after emergency crews arrived at the scene. 

(FOX 11)

Fire officials say the fire sparked in the attic of a family-owned nail salon. Firefighters discovered one of the victims became trapped in flames and was rushed to Los Angeles County + USC Medical Center where he died overnight, fire officials said. 

"He's very nice...he's very polite. I'm kind of shocked...I don't even know what to say because I know all of them," a witness told FOX 11 about the male victim. 

Nearby stores in the strip mall were also damaged in the fire, including a Mexican seafood restaurant and an Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

Firefighters reported the blaze was knocked down by 9:05 p.m.

The names of the victims were not released. 

No further details were immediately known.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

CNS contributed to this report.