Several people jumped from the second story of a Los Angeles hotel to escape fast-moving flames that killed one person and left 15 others with injuries, officials said.
Crews arriving to the blaze that broke out around 3 a.m. Thursday immediately had to go into rescue mode at the two-story residential hotel in the Wilmington neighborhood, Capt. Daniel Curry said.
Television footage showed flames shooting from windows and victims lying on the street. It took more than 100 firefighters about an hour to extinguish the blaze. A man staying on the first floor of the 20-unit building died at the scene. Two people were hospitalized with injuries that were moderate to serious, and others went to hospitals with minor injuries. Most of the injuries were to the legs of people who jumped, a Fire Department statement said. Officials said the fire is considered suspicious, and have started an arson investigation. - AP