2 In Grave Condition, Cats Killed In North Hollywood House Fire

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA — Two people were in grave condition Wednesday morning after being trapped in a house fire that also killed several cats in North Hollywood.

Two others were able to escape the burning home at 11015 W. Sarah St. before firefighters arrived. However, the two injured people — a 60-year-old woman and a 40-year-old woman — were trapped in the burning building and had to be rescued by Los Angeles Fire Department crews.

The fire department was called to the blaze at about 2:30 a.m.

"Two occupants (80M and 35M), alerted by a functional smoke alarm, were able to self-evacuate the home prior to firefighters' arrival, informing first-arriving LAFD personnel that two persons remained trapped in the burning residence," said Brian Humphrey , LAFD spokesman. "During an aggressive and well-coordinated attack on the flames, firefighters discovered and rescued (two people), as well as one unresponsive dog and three unresponsive cats."

According to Humphrey, three people were rushed to a nearby hospital, and an 80-year-old man declined medical treatment.

It took 57 firefighters nearly a half-hour to knock down the blaze that ravaged the 3,300-foot two-story home built in 1930.

"Though the three pet felines sadly proved beyond medical help and were determined dead at the scene, firefighters were able to resuscitate and are providing supportive care to the rescued canine, pending the arrival of the City's Department of Animal Services," Humphrey added.

An American Red Cross Disaster Action Team was summoned to provide for the immediate needs of the 80-year-old man, who remained at the scene.