One person found dead early Sunday after an automotive repair shop fire in South Los Angeles had been residing in a converted living space inside the densely packed business, which did not have smoke alarms or a spinkler system.
Firefighters discovered the body in a building at 80th and San Pedro streets (map), where crews responded at about 1:40 a.m. Fire officials said the victim was residing in a makeshift living space within the 900-square foot building.
About 30 firefighters knocked down the fire in 13 minutes. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Details regarding the victim's identity were not immediately available, but friends said they knew him as "Victor." They described him as a fixture of the South LA neighborhood who will be "very missed."
A passerby reported the fire at 8002 South San Pedro St. Firefighters forced their way through metal security doors and thick faced floor-to-ceiling smoke.
The body was found just inside the doorway, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. The front security door was equipped with a double-cylinder deadbolt, which requires a key to enter or exit the building.
Double-cylinder locks requiring keys on both sides of the door are not locally permitted in residential settings, according to the LAFD.
The converted living space inside the building was not equipped with smoke alarms or fire sprinklers, according to an LAFD news release.
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Photo Credit: NBC Local Media