A fire that tore through the roof of a detached garage in the Pacoima neighborhood of Los Angeles left one woman dead and another in critical condition Thursday night.
Crews responded within minutes to the fire reported just after 10:30 p.m. in the 13500 block of Gager Street near Laurel Canyon Boulevard.
Flames were already showing through the roof of the garage when firefighters arrived.
Upon learning that two people believed to be living in the garage were trapped inside, crews forced entry and located the victims, Los Angeles Fire Department Capt. Cody Weireter said.
The flames were doused within minutes but inside the residence, a 60-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene, Weireter said.
A second woman believed to have special needs was transported to a local hospital in critical condition.
The relationship between the women was unknown.
Arson investigators were at the scene working to determine the cause of the fire.
“At this current time there is no evidence of any functioning smoke alarms,” Weireter said.
Officials said that a working alarm may have saved the woman’s life.